The Head of Community Services has submitted a report to confirm the criteria and weighting for assessing the 2023/24 grant allocations, and to give an interim update showing examples of the impact of the Community Impact Fund grants to date.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.      Note the implementation of the new Oxford Community Impact Fund agreed by Cabinet on 15 December 2021 as part of the strategic grants review; and

2.      Recommend that applicants are requested to provide information regarding the demographics of their board/staff/volunteer teams and their response to the cost of living crisis in a voluntary capacity as part of project monitoring for grants awarded in 2022-23 and to make this obligatory for grants awarded in 2023-24.

The Head of Community Services had submitted a report to confirm the criteria and weighting for assessing 2023/24 grant allocations, and to give an interim update showing examples of the effectiveness of the Community Impact Fund grants to date.

Councillor Shaista Aziz, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Communities and Culture, reminded Cabinet that in 2021/2022 a decision had been taken to pool a number of different funding streams and create the Oxford Community Impact Fund with the aim of ensuring that funding was more accessible and aligned to the Council’s priorities, and that the grant application process was streamlined.  An update showing the impact of grants to date was expected to be brought to Cabinet next autumn, covering the full year of funding from 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023. 

In considering the grant allocation process for 2023/24, it was recommended that applicants be asked to provide information regarding the demographics of their board/staff/volunteer teams, as well as their response to the cost of living crisis.   This would not form part of the application process, but would be used within the monitoring process and was aimed at reducing inequalities and seeking to ensure that the process was fair for everyone in the city. 

It was noted that the current economic pressures, and in particular the rising costs of energy, were likely to increase the number of requests for assistance from the Fund.

It was noted that grant applications had previously been brought to Cabinet for approval, and clarification was sought as to whether this process would continue.  It was considered appropriate Cabinet be invited to approve Big Ideas and other major and medium-sized grants, with small grants being reported for information.  The Head of Community Services confirmed that work was already underway to this effect.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.      Note the implementation of the new Oxford Community Impact Fund agreed by Cabinet on 15 December 2021 as part of the strategic grants review; and

2.      Recommend that applicants are requested to provide information regarding the demographics of their board/staff/volunteer teams and their response to the cost of living crisis in a voluntary capacity as part of project monitoring for grants awarded in 2022-23 and to make this obligatory for grants awarded in 2023-24; and

3.      Note that a report to Cabinet seeking approval for major and medium-sized grants, and providing information on the allocation of small grants, was expected.