HAGLEY is set to benefit once again from community cash as part of the New Homes Bonus Scheme.

Bromsgrove District Council's Cabinet confirmed at its meeting on September 4 that £74,000 in NHB payments would go towards 21 projects across the district - £5,190 of which will go towards a new minibus for Haybridge High School in Hagley.

The New Homes Bonus Scheme, introduced by central government in 2011, means central government makes payments to councils every time a new home is built in a local area.

The aim of the scheme was that councils would then pass on some of the money to communities experiencing significant levels of new housing, so facilities could be improved to cater for the increased population.

Initially Bromsgrove District Council did not pass on any NHB money to affected communities, using the money to support the central budget, but in 2014 the authority changed its policy to start passing on money to communities after a 1,429-name petition was presented to the council by Hagley Residents Action Group.

Hagley villager Peter Rowbottom, who was lead petitioner, said: "This is the fifth successive year that local community projects have directly benefitted from NHB funding, which now totals some £450,000 across the district, including almost £100,000 in Hagley alone."

Bromsgrove councillor for Hagley West, Steve Colella, said: "This year’s bids just show how this initiative has benefited the whole of the district even in areas where the ward councillor didn’t initially support the villagers' petition.

"It is understood that the Government are considering reducing this grant and constraining what councils can claim. I’m calling on our MP Sajid Javid, also as Chancellor, to reconsider the pending changes and ensure investment can continue in our local communities through the New Homes Bonus scheme.”