Stafford and Staffordshire Moorlands urged to vote about good-cause cash

County Councillors Robert Simpson, Maureen Compton, Mike Poulter, Jack Barber, Christina Jebb, Madelaine Lovatt and Bill Day are giving their communities the opportunity to vote on which locally-based projects and initiatives should receive a slice of cash from a local good-cause cash fund. 

Each county councillor has been allocated £10,000 from Staffordshire County Council's Local Member Initiative Scheme to spend on local projects, and are now asking for people to guide them about how they want the money spent.

Anyone living in the following areas can have their say:

In the Staffordshire Moorlands:

• Caverswall
• Cellarhead
• Dilhorne
• Forsbrook
• Werrington
• Biddulph East
• Biddulph South
• Bagnall
• Brown Edge
• Endon
• Stanley
• Stockton Brook
• Biddulph North
• Biddulph West
• Biddulph Moor

In Stafford:

• Stafford West - Highfields and Western Downs, Wildwood, Manor, Rowley
• Stafford North - Holmcroft, Common and Tillington
• Stafford Central - Coton, Forebridge, Littleworth and Castle
• Stafford South East - Baswich and Wildwood, Meadowcroft Park, Queensville and Hillcroft Park, Rickerscote and Silkmore

"We're very keen to give our communities every opportunity to have their say in the decisions that affect them," said Robert, Deputy Leader of the council and  county councillor for Stafford North, "so we're delighted to be able to offer them this chance to choose the projects that they feel will most benefit everyone."

Christina said: "There are over 130 projects from across our areas who have applied to us and are in need of financial support.  By making sure that the community has a direct involvement in who receives funding, we'll make sure that the money is put to the absolute best use."

"This is not just a consultation exercise," continues Bill.   "It's about people joining with us to make a difference to everyone's quality of life.

Staffordshire is just one of a handful of councils who are trialling schemes to get people directly involved in spending public money in this way.

Voting starts on Wednesday 1^st October and residents have until Friday 31^st October to have their say.  Each resident can vote for the five projects that they feel will most benefit their community.

Voting forms are available online from Wednesday 1st October.  People can also vote via email to vote4funds@staffordshire.gov.uk by quoting the project reference number and stating their full name and address, or by text to 60003 by typing 'vote' and then a space and then the project reference number (e.g. vote BN6).  Paper voting forms are also available from your county councillor and in a variety of public access buildings across the area.