I was really happy to hear the announcement of extra funding awarded to Billesley from the Communities Secretary John Denham through the government's 'Connecting Communities' programme after it was named as one of 49 neighbourhoods to be involved in the programme.

But the I have called on the Birmingham City Council to make sure that the £40,000 awarded to Billesley isn't wasted and that they give local people an opportunity to have a say in what it is spent on.

Connecting Communities is designed to support those traditional working class areas of the country that have been worst hit by the economic recession and ensure that
residents there are getting a bigger say on local issues and are plugged into the benefits of Government investment. More than 161 areas, across every region of
England, are now taking part in the £12million drive.

The communities being targeted are those where some people may feel that they work hard, play by the rules but that somehow are not repaid and are not being listened
to. Each area faces different issues but the challenges can be broadly characterised as involving high levels of unemployment; low levels of educational achievement;
high levels of social housing, high levels of anti-social behaviour and crime, and low levels of community cohesion.

They are now drawing up individual plans addressing specific local challenges with practical actions to give people a bigger say in local issues and addressing local
concerns. This includes training for community champions so they have the skills to represent local people as well as training for councillors that may lack the experience and skills to take on difficult issues.

John Denham has made clear that the Government is committed to tackling inequality wherever it exists, that they are on people's side and will tackle disadvantage
even-handedly and wherever it exists. No favours. No privileges. No special interest groups. Just fairness. It is this commitment that is at the heart of the, Government's Connecting Communities programme.

He pledged that those communities hit hardest by the recession will get the targeted action and support they need to access jobs, tackle anti social behaviour and link
them with Government investment. Areas hardest hit are already the target for programmes like the Working Neighbourhoods fund - a £1.5bn programme over three
years to lift long term jobless back into work - and the Futures Jobs Fund which aims to create 170,000 additional jobs, primarily aimed at 18-24 year olds.

John Denham said:

"We are committed to tackling inequality and disadvantage wherever it exists. Connecting Communities will address local concerns and problems which are often felt
in our more traditional working class neighbourhoods. More than 161 communities are now getting targeted help. This support will enable local people to influence, shape
and change policies on issues which really matter in their community. It will help to make sure that those people who are feeling the pressure the most are getting a
bigger say and a fair deal.

"The over-riding principle of Connecting Communities is fairness - giving people a fair say, have a fair share of Government investment, and receive a fair deal from
Government policy. It is all about making sure that people know that the Government is on their side, wherever they live. No favours, No privileges. No special interest groups. Just fairness."

I'm delighted that Billesley has been awarded this funding and I look forward to seeing honest hard working residents being rewarded through this
investment.

However, I hope that Birmingham City Council will ask local people what they want the money to spent on and I am calling on them to make sure it isn't wasted by being
transparent about how it's spent.

Connecting Communities builds on the work Government is doing to build a fairer and stronger Britain. This includes extra support for communities to tackle anti-social behaviour with up to ten thousand front-line staff and community champions receiving training and support.