Headingley councillors take the Ward Based Initiative

11.45.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 12th Aug 2008

Headingley ward councillors are to be the first in Leeds to take advantage of the new Ward Based Initiative fund.

Under the scheme, passed by Leeds City Council's Executive Board in June, each councillor has a discretionary £10,000 to spend on improvements within their ward during this financial year

Councillors James Monaghan, Jamie Matthews and Martin Hamilton are to commit a total of £14,000 of their Ward Based Initiative money to renovating bin yards in the Harold and Thornville area to help improve the local environment and increase community safety.

The bin yards are currently enclosed by high boundary walls and all kinds of fly tipping, vandalism and antisocial behaviour go on unseen behind them. The grant from local councillors, as well as funding from the North West Area Committee, will pay for lowering these walls and fitting railings and lockable security gates to secure the yards and help reduce the incidence of crime.

Councillor James Monaghan (Lib Dem, Headingley) commented:

"I am pleased to be able to contribute to this scheme. The residents of the Harold and Thornville area have had to suffer antisocial behaviour for a long time now and it is about time it stopped. Hopefully, when the bin yards are visible through the railings, it will act as a deterrent and the fly tipping and vandalism will stop".

Councillor Martin Hamilton (Lib Dem, Headingley) stated:

"Headingley councillors always like to be ahead of the game, so it is no surprise to me that we are the first to take advantage of these funds. We hope to be able to put the rest towards similarly good works in the near future".

Councillor Jamie Matthews (Lib Dem, Headingley) added:

"The Ward Based Initiative scheme is very positive. It gives greater autonomy to the individual communities and ward councillors - the people who know where the problems lie - to make important improvements and investments in their area" .