NORTH Ayrshire Council residents are being given the power to decide which community groups will receive a cut of £170,000.

The total funds of £171,377 are from the council's Participatory Budgeting fund (PB).

Last month, 300 nominations were received from community groups and organisations, all hoping for a spot on the shortlist for the public vote.

On October 14, voting began on the Shaping North Ayrshire website for residents to have their say.

The council’s Connected Communities team, part of the North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership, alongside independent community reviewers, have whittled down the nominations to 186 locality and 114 youth projects that meet the eligibility criteria.

The money will be distributed to the projects that receive the most votes from residents. The voting period ends at midnight on November 8.

This year, the funding will be divided into two cycles: Locality PB and Youth PB, addressing a variety of needs from health and wellbeing to green projects and cost of living.

Pupils across North Ayrshire secondary schools can also participate in the voting process, provided they have a Young Scot card or National Entitlement Card.

In-school support will be available to help young people cast their votes.

Councillor Alan Hill says its up to the public on how they spend the money (Image: North Ayrshire Council) Councillor Alan Hill, cabinet member for communities and islands, said: "Our residents know better than anyone else which projects will be the most beneficial to them in their local communities, so it is only fair that they have a direct say on how money is spent.

"We encourage residents to please take the time to read through all of the eligible projects in your locality so that you can make an informed choice of who needs the funding most and what would make the most impact locally."

"Voters can vote for up to three projects in their own locality.

"The projects receiving the most votes by the end of the voting period will then be successfully funded from this year’s funding.

"It’s your money, you decide."

Participatory budgeting is a process that involves citizens in deciding how public money is spent.

The council’s PB budget is intended to be spent in the most beneficial way for the community.

The council hopes to foster a sense of community spirit by involving residents in the process of decision-making.

To find out more about the projects that have been successful in previous funding cycles, visit the Shaping North Ayrshire website.