Public given bigger say on spending

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears will use her first major speech in the job to signal an extension of the Government's attempts to give residents a bigger say in their area.

The latest initiative will see larger swathes of councils' spending determined by communities themselves through local debates, votes and public meetings.

The public is already invited to help allocate small pots of council cash according to local priorities.

But a series of pilots announced on Thursday will see that principle extended to about £20 million of public money.

Neighbourhoods will be able to control how it is spent in areas ranging from key infrastructure projects and transport to leisure facilities and youth services.

Ministers hope that the 10 pilots will be rolled out nationally within five years.

"Democracy should be about much more than casting a vote every few years," Ms Blears will tell the Local Government Association in Birmingham.

"It should be a daily activity, not an abstract theory. Local people know the needs of their area better than anyone.

"This Government is delivering a real shift in power to town halls, and ensuring town halls pass this on to local communities. We want to bring devolution to the doorstep, giving communities a direct say over how to tackle the things that matter most to them - from improving playgrounds, to tackling litter, to making their street safer."