£10,000 to councillors to invest

Councillors can invest the funds in community projects

A scheme to give every Northants county councillor £10,000 to invest in their own community is set to be backed by a council's cabinet committee.

The Empowering Councillors and Communities project gives individual councillors direct powers of investment in their ward for the first time.

Members can decide which local projects, groups or facilities will benefit most from the cash.

A pilot scheme in Kettering last year proved a success, the council said.

'Direct influence'

Council leader Jim Harker said: "The scheme is at the heart of our vision for developing the role of local councillors as community champions.

"Never before in local politics have communities had such a direct influence on how decisions are made in their area.

The council has also been collaborating with parish councils on key local issues, he said.

Last year 10 county councillors from Kettering were awarded £10,000 each under the pilot scheme.

Among the projects last year, £5,000 went towards supporting a Rothwell community youth project and another £2,000 was spent on refurbishing the kitchen in Broughton village hall.

The grants also funded a power supply for Warkton village clock, a bus shelter at Weston-by-Welland and equipment for a scout group at Geddington.