Complex sentence: In the twentieth century, it was explicitly recognised that the status of city in England and Wales would no longer be bound to the presence of a cathedral, and grants made since have been awarded to communities on a variety of criteria, including population size.
Split into simpler sentences: In the twentieth century it was explicitly recognized that the status of city in England and Wales would no longer be bound to the presence of a cathedral. Grants made since have been awarded to communities on a variety of criteria including population size.