Over the next two years, communities across the region will benefit from a range of projects including new and enhanced play areas, off street parking, environmental improvements, local heritage projects and community safety initiatives.

A number of Local Area Partnership (LAP) meetings are now scheduled to take place to gather ideas from residents on how the money should be spent.

Council leader Jim Logue said the £6m funding comes from a re-prioritisation of existing budgets.

“We have already had a lot of ideas for projects but we need to hear from more community groups any ideas they have for their area,” he said.

“There will also be an opportunity for people to vote on specific suggestions for projects, in some areas, through a process known as participatory budgeting.

“Our community partnership team is encouraging all communities to come forward with ideas and to come along and discuss these at Local Area Partnership (LAP) meeting.”

The LAP meetings take place in all seven localities four times a year; the next meetings will be held on: