Council looking for suggestions on how to spend £500,000 Local Improvement Fund

Contact your local councillor with suggestions on how the money should be spent

Oldham Council is asking for residents' input on how to influence their spending on local improvements.

The Local Improvement Fund (LIF) was established by the Council in 2019, with the aim of supporting Districts to prioritise projects important to residents.

Earlier this week, the council’s cabinet approved a budget of £500,000 for the fund, and are now asking local people to contact their councillor with ideas before the end of Thursday 24 November.

The council wants proposals that will support the three top priorities of its Residents First approach. These are the things that residents have said matter most to them:

• The cost-of-living crisis – how can we use local projects to make a difference where it’s most needed?
• Children and young people – to help make sure Oldham gives the best start in life that it possibly can.
• Don’t Trash Oldham – the authority's local campaign to help improve neighbourhoods.

Oldham Council’s Leader, Cllr Amanda Chadderton, said: “We want to make sure residents have the best possible chance to guide improvements to their neighbourhoods. So we’re asking everyone who has a great idea to share it with their councillor.

“This is an exciting opportunity for people to get involved with a project in their community. In past years the Local Improvement Fund has funded projects like wildlife sanctuaries, road safety improvements and restoration of community spaces. There are always lots of fantastic suggestions and I’m sure this year will be no different.

“We’ll be spending half a million pounds through our Local Improvement Fund in the coming year, so please do help us use that cash to make the biggest possible difference for Oldham people.”

A range of large and small ideas will be considered, with £100,000 being held as 'fast grants' that must be in the range of £500 to £3,500.

Individual councillors will put their proposals to a cross-party committee, which in turn will recommend to the leadership the projects they think most likely to make the biggest difference.

The committee will prioritise projects that have clear local support, that can demonstrate value, and where there is match funding either from Councillors’ personal budgets or other local funding streams.

Decisions on which projects are to be funded with the Local Improvement Fund will be announced from December 2022 onwards.

You can search for your local councillor online, or by phoning the council helpline on 0161 770 7007

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