Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision

The Committee received the annual report for the Community Grants fund for voluntary, community, and not for profit organisations. It provided an overview of the process, eligibility criteria, budget and applications received with recommendations for 2023-24 awards.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Equalities, Anti-Poverty and Wellbeing

Approved the Community Grants to voluntary and community organisations for 2023-24, as set out in Appendix 1 and 2 of the Officer’s report, subject to the budget approval in February 2023 and any further satisfactory information required of applicant organisations.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Community Funding and Voluntary Sector Manager.

The Community Funding and Voluntary Sector Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.         Evaluation of recent grant rounds had been omitted due to Covid lockdown pressures. Details about the 2021-22 Annual Report were included in the Officer’s report. Councillors were invited to give feedback on information they would find helpful to include in future Annual Reports.

    ii.         Applications were judged on their own merits. Funding was not issued to applicants who did not meet criteria or provided insufficient information.

   iii.         Small grant funding was piloted as an initiative to support small groups who were new to the funding bidding process.

  iv.         The City Council were keen to explore how they could support charities and small groups in the long term but were limited by (available) City Council finances. Community Services were looking at options such as multiple bidding windows for funding instead of an annual one.

    v.         A number of stakeholder groups were involved in the small grant application question design to ensure they were fit for purpose and understandable for Applicants. The funding scheme was widely promoted to encourage take up. Officers were investigating alternative/additional ways in future. Officers used their knowledge to signpost Applicants to alternative funding sources if they did not meet City Council criteria.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.