Reducing air pollution, clamping down on anti-social behaviour, and tackling youth violence are just some of the areas in line to receive a cash boost, as part of plans agreed by Barking and Dagenham Council.
In total more than £1.7million is to be injected into schemes across the council.
One initiative will see £225,000 to be used to extend work on delivering the council’s air quality action plan, which aims to clean up the borough’s air by tackling air pollution, as well as creating new roles to handle environmental complaints such as noise nuisance and eyesore gardens.
The council has also set aside £200,000 on delivering active travel interventions over the next three years, which aim to reduce car use and encourage more walking and cycling.
A further £400,000 will be used to bolster the council’s community safety enforcement work, which will include increasing the number of patrols carried out and longer operating hours.
Councillor Dominic Twomey, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services said: “We’re pleased to be able to commit over £1.7m extra funding to be reinvested into these key areas, which will have a huge benefit to our resident’s long-term health and safety.
“Careful management of the council’s finances, despite shrinking government support, has meant that we are able to continue to deliver frontline services and improvements for the people of Barking and Dagenham.”
Councillor Margaret Mullane, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “We know just how important it is for residents that Barking and Dagenham continues to be a safe place and that’s why we’re strengthening our safety enforcement by increasing the number of patrols that will be carried out.
“We’re also making really important improvements to CCTV and lighting to make places safer, and we’ll be creating safe spaces for vulnerable people. In addition to this, we’re investing more money to help tackle youth violence. We’ll continue to do everything we can to make our neighbourhoods a safe place for the people who live and work in the borough.”
Around £120,000 will be used to help deliver the council’s community safety strategy, which includes co-ordinating work around gangs and ending youth violence, as well creating safe spaces for vulnerable people such as victims of abuse and improvements to CCTV and lighting.
A new CCTV vehicle, which will patrol the borough checking parents are parking safely near schools and catching irresponsible drivers parking dangerously, is also on the cards after the council earmarked an investment boost of £70,000.