‘Red tape’ around Sydney council grants limits access for community, Councillor says

By HENRIQUE MONTEIRO

A City of Sydney Councillor has flagged the increasingly complex process of applying for council grants as an issue for community events. The amount of grants given out each year by the City of Sydney for community events has decreased in 2023.

“Community applicants have advised me that the City’s grants and acquittal process for past and current applicants have become burdensome with red tape,” City of Sydney Councillor Shauna Jarrett explained.

Christmas in Pyrmont, one of many community events run in Sydney, has been affected by the increasing complexity of application processes.

According with Cr Jarrett, this year the Christmas in Pyrmont event committee will not be applying for a community grant for the first time in 10 years due to the current complex and time-consuming nature of the acquittal process for not-for-profits groups.

Held as an annual fair in Pyrmont since 2013, Christmas in Pyrmont has received a $15,000 community grant each year for the past decade.

The community grants aided with the preparation of the decade-long event. Run by volunteers, it includes a market, live music and children’s activities and has raised over $700,000 to local charities through multiple fundraising events.

Red tape creating roadblock for local groups

Jarrett cited “needless questions and unnecessarily long application forms” as the main problem for grant applications. Often times non-for-profits and community organisation who need access to council grants don’t have the resources to fill out long applications or hire support for grant writing.

“A number of community groups who have put their own time, energy and expertise into community events have told me they are considering not applying in the future as the process for funding seems to be targeted at larger commercial events,” Cr Jarrett said.

Cr Jarrett put forward notice of motion at yesterday’s council meeting to urge the Chief Executive Officer to remove unnecessary complexity in the grants’ acquittal process for events that contribute to the social and economic life of the community.

“Community events such as Christmas in Pyrmont are the heart of the City of Sydney,” Jarrett said.

“They enable people to come together, support many local businesses, bolster community spirit and contribute to Sydney being the best City in the world to live, work and stay.”

Council response

A City of Sydney spokesperson said:

“In the last few years, we have worked hard to cut red tape and create a streamlined grants application process.

We have made the process easier than ever before for applicants, including oral applications and acquittals for those requiring additional support.

At the same time, we must ensure that when distributing public funds we do so in a responsible, fair, equitable and transparent way – as part of the assessment process, applicants must identify significant benefits for local residents, workers, sector, industry and/or visitors.

The City offers numerous multi-year grants that support local festivals and events that celebrate, develop and engage the city’s communities – this includes one-off and annual events like Christmas in Pyrmont.”

City Hub reached out to Christmas in Pyrmont for comment.