'Passionate' people sought to shape £60m plans

Council bosses are seeking volunteers to help decide how £60m of government money should be spent in deprived parts of Leicester.

Thurnby Lodge, Eyres Monsell and Braunstone West have been selected to each get £20m from the government's Pride in Place fund.

The cash will be spent over the next 10 years with Leicester City Council setting up neighbourhood boards to help choose how it should be used.

The authority said it was looking for people who were passionate about their communities to chair the boards.

The chairs will lead the boards which will be made up of residents, councillors, MPs, senior police representatives, members of faith groups and youth and community organisations.

The money will be targeted at improvements backed by the local community and could include projects to tackle littering and graffiti or building a new sports ground.

Ministers said they will give communities help to save pubs and libraries from closure and encourage councils to block "fake" barbers, as well as "unwanted" betting and vape shops.

The city council said it wanted to recruit people who were trusted in their communities to take on the chair role - which would be voluntary but comes with "modest" expenses.

The council said candidates should have previous leadership experience but it was not essential.

Andrew Shilliam, the authority's director of corporate resources, said: "What matters most is local credibility, commitment to your community and the ability to bring together people with different views and ensure all of their voices are heard."

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