Decision details

Town Centre Events Grants - Spring 2025

Decision Maker: Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

We will require a decision on our recommended selection for the Town Centre Event Grants Spring 2025 rounds.


Grants have been advertised and event organisers have completed applications to deliver their own event in All Saints Square or Forge Island. There are 4 grants of £2000 available, one for each Saturday in March. This is the third grant scheme we’ve run, the first was in March 2024 and second was in August 2024. The purpose of these grants is to create more free public events in Rotherham Town Centre, to drive footfall, and to support independent organisers to deliver their own events.


The Events and Town Centre teams have selected 4 for recommendation, based on: quality of application; appropriateness of budget; experience; if it’s suitable for family audiences; accessibility and inclusivity; and to offer a range of creative disciplines and cultural experiences.


We require a decision to be made that our recommendations can be granted, so that we can notify the applicants, offer them the grant and support them to promote and deliver the event.


Funding for the grants has come from UKSPF funding as part of an agreed RMBC Events’ Town Centre Events programme, and requires no RMBC Events budget.

Decision:

 

ROTHERHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF OFFICER EXECUTIVE DECISION

 

Date of Decision:

3rd February 2025

 

Title:

Town Centre Events Grants - Spring 2025

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Leanne Buchan, Head of Creative Programming & Engagement

 

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

 

·       Authorisation of grants up to a value of £25000 according to the Council’s criteria for cultural, leisure and events grants. This is derived from Page 31 of the Sub Scheme of Delegation, Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

·       The implementation of any functions associated with any grant/funding regime, including, but not limited to, National Grants/funding, SYMCA funds, Grants & Programmes and European Funding/Grants.  This is derived from Page 22 of the Sub Scheme of Delegation, Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Decision:

·       Waive the fees and costs associated with Event Application Packs

·       Approve the award of Four grants of £2,000 each to support Town Centre activities

 

Reasons for the Decision:

The decision has been in accordance with the funding agreement relating to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Grant to support Town Centre Events

 

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Do Nothing – Event organisation carries a range of costs such as venue hire, marketing, equipment hire, catering and paying performers. In addition, costs associated with Council fees and charges related event application packs for events taking place on Council land can make the cost of hosting event prohibitive. Without support from the Council organisers may not have the means to organise events which stifles talent development in the community and places additional pressure on the available resources within the Council’s events team..

 

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

N/A

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

N/A

 

Reports or parts of reports considered

Add the details of the report or parts of report considered in making the decision.

 

The report of the Town Centre Event Grants Programme – Spring 2025 considered by Leanne Buchan, Head of Creative Programming & Engagement

 

 

I certify that this is a true record of the executive decision to waive the fees and costs associated with Event Application Packs and approve the award of Four grants of £2,000 each to support Town Centre activities

 

Signed by the Decision Maker  

 

Dated:          3rd February, 2025

 

Name:          Leanne Buchan

                    

Job Title:    Head of Creative Programming & Engagement

 

Publication date: 06/02/2025

Date of decision: 03/02/2025

Accompanying Documents: