A GRANT pot worth £180,000 will be shared out to councillors to spend on improving their community.

Braintree Council is set to introduce a new ward-based Councillors’ Community Grant Scheme from September.

The Scheme will enable ward members to change and spruce up their area through the provision of grants to community groups.

It will be supported by the Grant Panel and the Community Services Team.

The money has been included within the budget for the next two years to cover the funding of the grants, plus the administration and promotion of the scheme.

In a report read at a council meeting on Monday, June, 27, presented by councillor Gabrielle Spray, it said: "The scheme will provide all 49 ward councillors with funds to support organisations and groups to develop and deliver community projects and initiatives that benefit local residents.

"Each councillor will be allocated £1,500 from the September 1 until March 31 to spend on their ward, and £1,500 from the April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018."

The scheme will operate district wide with all wards benefitting.

The council expects about 250 grant awards to be made each year.

Minimum grant allocation will be £100, and ward councillors can combine their money to contribute to one grant.