Hampshire County Council fund to support local authoritiesÂ

Hampshire County Council has earmarked £500,000 to help the local authorities improve their communities.

Parish and town councils will be invited to apply for the money as part of the new Hampshire Association of Local Councils.

Councillor Roy Perry, leader of the county council, said: '˜We've set up the Parish and Town Council Investment Fund to encourage innovation at a local level.

'˜We want to support councils to get the knowledge and equipment they need to help them look at fresh ways in which they might run a greater number of community-based projects themselves.'

There will be three areas in which councils can apply for funding. They include: 

- enhancing existing or provide new infrastructure which supports their communities.

- supporting communities to be more resilient.

- funding training to support people to deliver services in the area.

Applicants will be able to apply to the fund from November.