In September 2025, Blyth Town Council agreed to increase the annual Councillor Small Schemes Fund allocation to £2,000 per councillor, doubling the previous amount of £1,000. The Small Schemes Fund was introduced in 2016 and had remained unchanged at £1,000 per Councillor per year not considering the increased costs community groups face or inflation.

The Small Schemes Fund is intended to support local projects, community initiatives, and minor improvements that benefit residents across Blyth. Each councillor has access to an annual allocation of up to £2,000, with any unspent balance carried forward for use later in their elected term rather than being lost at the end of each financial year.  Our councillors do not receive these funds directly, and the scheme provides no personal financial benefit to members. All monies remain under the control of the council, with applications administered through the Town Council office in accordance with established procedures.

Community groups and local organisations, can seek support from their local councillors, and councillors can also identify areas for improvement. Once a request is received from a councillor, officers undertake due diligence before it is considered for approval by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Community Development Committee together with the Town Clerk, under delegated powers.

Funding decisions are processed centrally to ensure transparency and accountability, with payments made directly by the council rather than through individual councillors.

A full Record of Small Schemes Fund allocations is available, providing transparency on how funding has been distributed and which projects have been supported. The scheme remains entirely focused on community benefit

Our Community Funding Scheme, which has a budget of £141,300 still operates as previous being considered in four rounds and will be open in the new financial year.