Communities across Bath and North East Somerset will once again benefit from £59,000 of funding to help address local needs and support residents.
Each councillor across the area will have access to a £1,000 “empowerment fund” they can use in their community.
The money can be put to a wide variety of uses, including tree planting, providing litter picking equipment, or supporting services to vulnerable people.
Councillors work with residents, community and voluntary organisations, and parish and town councils to agree projects.
Bathwick ward councillor Dr Yukteshwar Kumar said: “It’s brilliant news that this scheme is being made available again going forwards. I know that Councillors and communities really value having a fund dedicated to each ward.
“It means that we can work together to get local projects or improvements in place quickly and make a real difference.
“Over the last 15 months, my ward colleague and I have been able to allocate funding to benches beside the canal and on Bathwick Hill, public information boards at St Mary’s Churchyard and Sydney Gardens, environmental improvements, and the restoration of historic grave memorials in Smallcombe cemetery, amongst other things.
“These are the sorts of small improvements that matter to local people. Continuing the fund for another year really shows how the Lib Dems are committed to listening to residents and putting them first.”
Councillor Richard Samuel, B&NES Cabinet member for Resources, added: “I’m pleased that we have been able to continue the ward Councillor empowerment fund, despite the shock to public finances caused by the pandemic.
“This last year has been extraordinary but it’s been encouraging to see how Councillors and communities have come together to propose a wide variety of schemes – from supporting food banks to warning motorists not to speed.”
Residents should contact their ward councillors if they would like to make suggestions for the empowerment funds.
