More neighbourhoods to get a `community kitty`

The number of areas where people are given a direct say in how council money is spent is to more than double, Hazel Blears has announced. The Communities Secretary said that residents in a further 12 areas of the country would get the chance to access their own `community kitty` to spend on tackling the issues they think are most important in their own neighbourhood. Ms Blears said this new way of working would revive local democracy and participation by giving people a say in local decisions. She wants all local authorities to employ this practice within five years and the new areas mark important progress towards that goal.