The Chief Executive has decided to approve recommendations for determining pledge levels for the Council main Westhive fund and the UKSPF funding for various civic projects.

URL: https://meetings.westoxon.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=424

Decision Maker: Chief Executive & Head of Paid Service - Giles Hughes

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: To consider submissions to the fourth round of Westhive and determine pledge levels for the Council main Westhive fund and the UKSPF funding.

Content: To consider submissions to the fourth round of Westhive and determine pledge levels for the Council main Westhive fund and the UKSPF funding. That the Chief Executive resolved to;   1.    Approve that final determinations as explained in 2. are made by the Chief Exec in consultation with the Leader of the Council. In March 2023, the Executive agreed to commission Spacehive Ltd to create a Westhive ‘movement’ on its civic crowdfunding platform.  This movement enables local people to promote ideas for civic projects and to raise money from local supporters, including the Council. The Round 4 project creators pitch deadline was 31st March 2025. Projects live on the Westhive platform have completed verification by Spacehive and are currently campaigning for pledges from the public and businesses.   Please visit https://www.spacehive.com/movement/westhive/projects to view the live campaigns.   The Council’s main Westhive Fund has an available budget of £190,177. This is made up of an annual budget of £120,000 and a carry forward from 2024/25 of £70,177.  The fund can contribute up to 75% of the total project cost, or up to £12,000, whichever is less, to projects of a capital and revenue nature.   In April 2025 it was confirmed that £60,000 from the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) and £30,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund / Community Infrastructure Fund (UKSPF/CIF) would be distributed through Westhive. This is solely capital funding. Given the timing, it was not possible to advertise the availability of these funds ahead of the 31st March deadline. Where we have projects which are eligible on the platform for UKSPF/REPF funding and actively fundraising, we have included them in the officers assessment and considered them for funding in this round.   When arriving at the recommendations officers have sought to prioritise projects based on the following factors: ·         Relevance to Council aims. ·         Benefit of the project. ·         Number of pledges. ·         Relation to other projects. ·         Value for money/potential impact.   Summary of recommendations:     Project Council Main Westhive Fund UKSPF/REPF No. of pledges Value of pledges to date Churchill and Sarsden Village Hall Refurb   Total Officer Score  £ 6,033       45/50 NA 54  £ (in kind) £ 44,962  (cash) Community floodplain restoration W Oxon   Total Officer Score  £ 10,000         45/50 NA 43 £4,200+ (in kind) £ 6,945 (cash) Carterton Community hub     Total Officer Score £0 Project has reached target   45/50 NA 31 £ (in kind) £ 50,010 (cash) Curtain up! Light the Lights!   Total Officer Score £441     30/50 £2,658 25 £ (in kind) £ 2,172 (cash) River Day Festival: Fundraising Fete   Total Officer Score  £1,222     25/50 NA 22 £ 700 (in kind) £ 1,825 (cash) Lets Roll! Wheelchair Dancing for All   Total Officer Score  £10,000       45/50 NA 26 £ (in kind) £ 15,675 (cash) Revitalise Carterton Family Centre   Total Officer Score  £8,975       45/50 £1,950 15 £ (in kind) £ 1,270 (cash) Play facilities development   Total Officer Score  £11,112 50/50 NA 3 £ (in kind) £ 54,170(cash) North Leigh Youth Project and Centre   Total Officer Score  £8,722     45/50 £1,000 2 £ (in kind) £ 5,500(cash) Revive Swinbrook's Historic Village Hall   Total Officer Score £9,515       45/50 £9,526   1 £ (in kind) £ 10 (cash) The Station Hot Chocolate Van   Total Officer Score £10,000     45/50 £17,244 8 £ (in kind) £ 6,378 (cash) Creating a new library at Hailey School   Total Officer Score £750       25/50 £1,000 15 £ (in kind) £ 1,567 (cash) Hanborough Pavilion Improvement Project   Total Officer Score £8,000       40/50 NIL 4 £ (in kind) £ 5,938 (cash) The Branch, Chipping Norton   Total Officer Score £7,065     35/50 NA 1 £ (in kind) £ 15,000 (cash) A Fresh Start for the Old Bakehouse   Total Officer Score £8,000     40/50 £10,000 1 £ (in kind) £ 35,000 (cash) Total £99,835 £43,378     Remaining budget £90,342 £46,622         The Chief Executive could decide not to fund at the levels recommended above and instead refer the matter for further consultation with the Executive. This would necessitate a further review group meeting and delay determinations.

Date of Decision: June 12, 2025