Derbyshire councillors’ funds doubled to help local people

Councillors at Derbyshire County Council are to be giving extra funding so they can help local groups in their area.

By Tim Cunningham

Published 24th Apr 2020, 13:27 BST

Updated 29th Apr 2020, 09:10 BST

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Each year every councillor has £3,860 which they can donate to groups in their area but after a meeting on Thursday the council’s cabinet agreed to double this amount so each councillor will get £7,720 for this financial year.

Councillor Barry Lewis, said: “Local councillors know their areas the best and are well placed to spend this money where it is going to make the most difference.

“For some local groups a small donation may make the difference to that organisation making it through this pandemic.

Derbyshire County Council's headquarters, County Hall in Matlock.

“These funds cannot usually be used to help groups with general running costs, but given the circumstances we are lifting this requirement.”

Community groups can find contact details on the council’s website.

The total cost of £247,000 is to come from the council’s reserve funds.

Derbyshire County Council Derbyshire Community groups