A LEADING Worcestershire Conservative has lauded a £600,000 project to fund worthy causes - saying it has been an enormous success.

Councillor Anthony Blagg says the divisional fund - which means all 57 councillors at County Hall get a £10,000 yearly kitty to spend locally - is working to cut through the bureaucracy of town hall politics.

As your Worcester News revealed on Tuesday, the fund is being extended by another year.

Cllr Blagg, who is cabinet member for the environment, said: "A lot of councillors tell me County Hall is quite remote from their division.

"We are increasingly expecting them to take on the role of community leaders and this money, which is a substantial sum, will help with that.

"I wholeheartedly welcome the continuation of it because money does tend to speak louder than words and we're putting our money where our mouth is.

"It's been used by councillors of all political persuasions across the county, there's been some fantastic schemes which would just not have got off the ground if we'd gone through the other slow, bureaucratic processes."

Under the rules councillors must spend it on any worthy causes in their area after getting it signed off from an officer.

The council keeps a public register on its website detailing every single item of spend for the public to inspect.

Although most of the handouts were modest, they have made enormous contributions to each community over the last year.

Lunch clubs for pensioners, youth centres, schools, sea cadets, churches, dance academies and village halls were just some of the beneficiaries over the last few months.

They also include the homeless, women’s groups, hospice organisations, community transport, money advice centres, toddler and baby groups and volunteers.

In most cases the funds, which range from less than £100 to thousands, were handed over immediately.

It has been such a success that last week the council's main watchdog, the overview, scrutiny and performance board, recommended that the fund should be increased.

But the tally for next year will remain at £10,000 for each councillor.