NEIGHBOURHOODS across York are to get £150,000 between them to help keep parks and open spaces in good condition, in a bid to improve pride in the city despite falling council funds.

City councillors agreed to the extra cash injection when setting their budget in March, and next week a decision will be taken on how the money will be divided.

Cllr Keith Aspden, the executive member responsible for community engagement, will decide exactly how the money should be shared out at a public meeting on Tuesday, May 10.

He said the plans were to support improvements to York's parks and other public open spaces, based on priorities decided by people in the local communities.

A report by council staff recommends that £100,000 be shared out between the city's 21 ward committees, while the remaining £50,000 be kept back and used on community-led environmental or gardening projects across the city.

Cllr Aspden said: "The report builds on our efforts to devolve funding and decision-making to wards and confirms our commitment to work with volunteers and groups to maintain and improve the quality of our shared spaces."

This year - 2015/16 - wards put forward their priorities for their grounds maintenance budgets. Projects that have been supported so far include supporting park friends groups host events and gardening projects, helping tennis clubs with the management of courts and setting up a bailiff scheme with the Friends of Chapman Pond. Cllr Cllr Aspden visited Chapman’s Pond at the weekend to find out more about its Volunteer Bailiff Scheme, and praised it as a "excellent example" of community led environmental work. There. 32,350 of ward funding has helped fund things like bike racks, replacement fencing and a gate, insurance cover and kit for volunteers, and water testing equipment for the pond.

A financial plan shows how the £100,000 could be shared out between the wards, with the biggest sum of £6,948 going to the city centre Guildhall ward and the smallest £1,972 in line for Bishopthorpe.

The report outlines options to encourage and support more people to volunteer and seek partners to co-ordinate city-wide volunteering and to develop a wider Environment Network to coordinate efforts and funding across the city.