Purpose

This is a decision to
allocate part of the Children’s Capital of Culture grant
funding to a ‘Creative Development Grants’ programme,
which will make up to five grants of £2,500 available to
individuals and organisations across the Rotherham borough; these
grants will enable them to run quality cultural activities as part
of the Children’s Capital of Culture Festival Year. This
decision is to approve the use of an open, public and competitive
selection process to award these grants, and to confirm the
individuals and organisations to be awarded the Creative
Development Grants.
 

Decision

 

ROTHERHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF OFFICER EXECUTIVE DECISION

 

Date of Decision:

12th August, 2025

 

Title:

Children’s Capital of Culture 2025
– Creative Development Grants

 

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Andrew Bramidge, Strategic Director,
Regeneration & Environment
 

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

 

Sub Scheme of Delegation - Strategic Director of
Regeneration and Environment – Page 31-32 refers.

 
All
financial matters relating to the management and delivery of
cultural, leisure, green spaces, landscape design and sports
services, including:
·      
Awarding and distribution of grants
·      
Authorisation of grants up to a value of
£25,000 according to the Council’s criteria for
cultural, leisure and events grants
 

Working in collaboration with Finance
Officers

Decision:

To
approve the proposed awards of Creative Development Grants of
£2,500 to five Rotherham-based individuals and organisations
to deliver innovative and participatory cultural projects across
the Rotherham borough between 1st August and 31st December
2025.

 

Reasons for the Decision:

This
decision increases the capacity of Rotherham-based individuals and
organisations to deliver new and imaginative events and experiences
that provide a distinctive offer for children and young people
across the borough and wider region.
 
The
Creative Development Grants programme is funded through the
Gainshare fund. The stated aims of this grant programme are to
support the growth of the economy of the local cultural and
creative industries and create a blueprint for high-quality
engagement and co-production with children and young people.
Awarding Creative Development Grants to five grant recipients
therefore delivers on the key aims of this grant.

Details of alternative options considered and
rejected:

Do
nothing – failing to allocate the Creative Development Grants
funding to local individuals and organisations using an open,
accessible and clearly communicated selection process would mean
Children’s Capital of Culture is unable to fulfil its
agreement with the funder around the purpose and timescales of
spending this funding. This would be a substantial reputational
risk to the Council and its partners and could mean that the grant
is withdrawn and that the Council is unable to access future rounds
of funding allocated through SYMCA.
 
Failing
to allocate the Creative Development Grants could also affect the
reputation of Council across individuals and organisations working
across the local culture, creative, sports and leisure sectors.
Without support from the Council through the Creative Development
Grants programme, these organisations may not have the means to run
an innovative and creative activity programme that supports and
upskills the local sector while also creating a wide range of
quality opportunities for youth engagement and community
cohesion.

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

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

N/A

 

Conflicts of interest declared by the Decision Maker if they sit
as a Cabinet appointed representative to an outside body which
relates to the decision:

N/A

 

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

N/A

 

Reports or parts of reports considered

Children’s Capital of Culture 2025 –
Creative Development Grants Programme

 
I certify that this is a true
record of the executive decision to: approve the proposed
awards of Creative Development Grants of £2,500 to five
Rotherham-based individuals and organisations to deliver innovative
and participatory cultural projects across the Rotherham borough
between 1st August and 31st December 2025.
 
 
I confirm that in
making this decision, due regard was given to the seven principles
of public life.
 
 
Signed by the
Decision Maker:
 

 
Dated:
        
12th August,
2025
 
Name:         
Andrew Bramidge 
Job
Title:     Strategic
Director, Regeneration & Environment