A Participatory Budgeting (PB) exercise was carried out in Circuit, Halfway and Westburn with a total of £6,300 available (£2,100 for each area).

Local stakeholders and groups were invited to apply for funding for activities that focused on the priorities highlighted in the Neighbourhood Plan for the area. The projects were shared with the community to then allow local people to vote and tell them what they would like the money to be spent on.

The community had the opportunity to vote online and in person as a link was shared via South Lanarkshire Council and Local Social media pages. Outdoor voting stations were also made available within the community. There was a great turn out with almost 500 people showing support and voting for their favourite projects/groups.

The votes were then counted and the projects with the most votes were allocated funding to allow their projects to get underway.

In the Circuit area, Circuit Youth Project were awarded £700 for outdoor play equipment and £500 for a pantomime outing, LEAP £400 for a community garden and South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture £500 for a sports hub.

In Halfway, Project 31 were awarded £695 for outdoor play sessions, Halfway Community Council £385 for a community clean event, Halfway Bingo Club were awarded £320 and South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture £700 for a sports hub.

In Westburn, Westburn Youth Project were awarded £700 for outdoor play and £700 for a memorial garden, and South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture £700 for a sports hub.

Wendy Russell of LEAP, who were awarded £400 from the £2,100 available for the Circuit area, said: “This money will allow us to create a community garden.

“It provides the opportunity for local people to get involved in food growing and increases social opportunities for local people who have an interest in gardening.

“There is also a yarn bombed flower garden in an area that had become overgrown and unused. This provides local people to learn and explore new skills outdoors in a safe environment and provide a space for the community to come together to enjoy nature. The fund provided materials and tools to help develop the relaxation and social zone within the garden.”

The council’s Deputy Leader and Chair of the Community Planning Partnership, Councillor Maureen Chalmers, said: “The PB process gives local people the opportunity to decide where money should be spent in their local area and we are delighted with the plans groups across the Cambuslang East area either have in place or have already delivered.

“I would encourage communities across South Lanarkshire to find out more and get involved in the PB process – we recognise that no-one knows better than local people what would benefit their area.”