Volunteers to decide how £20m should be spent

Volunteers are being sought for a board to help decide how almost £20m of funding will be spent.

Scarborough is set to receive the cash from the Government's Plan for Neighbourhoods scheme.

In order to allocate the funds a series of neighbourhood boards are being set up to bring together residents and businesses to decide how to spend the money.

The board will decide how to use the funding, including on options such as repairs to pavements and high streets, setting up low-cost community grocers, and providing low-cost alternatives when shopping for essentials, to co-operatives or even neighbourhood watches.

Roles include chair of the board as well as regular board members and residents have until 18:00 BST on 9 May to submit their applications.

The roles are unpaid, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

North Yorkshire Council said: "We aim to refresh the board by seeking applications for a new Chair to lead the Neighbourhood Board forward.

"Additionally, we are inviting individuals with expertise and experience in the Plan for Neighbourhoods themes to join as new board members."

The new Plan for Neighbourhoods aims to deliver on the commitments made to deprived communities by the previous Conservative government's Long-Term Plan for Towns, which committed long-term investment in 55 towns including Scarborough.

The council said the ideal candidate for the board would be an "independent individual who already holds a prominent role within the town and has a genuine passion for Scarborough".

They will work closely with and under the guidance of the head of the Scarborough Town Board David Kerfoot.

"Acting as a champion for Scarborough, the Chair will provide leadership for the Neighbourhood Board, ensuring it is community-led and embedded within the local area," the description states.

Board member applications are particularly welcomed from "individuals representing groups and organisations associated with high streets, skills, cohesion (including youth and faith), health and wellbeing, and transport".

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