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Millions of pounds of investment have been committed right across South Tyneside.

The Council agreed the Medium-Term Financial Plan in its meeting on Monday 28 February. In it is a package of investment projects ranging from roads and footpaths to major environmental and regeneration schemes.

Cllr Joanne Bell, Lead Member for Resources and Innovation at Â鶹ÊÓƵ said: "This budget plan for 2022 to 2027 focuses on how we will use our limited resources in the best way to ensure that we focus on the things that matter the most to people. This includes investment in playgrounds on a rolling programme over the next five years, borough wide accommodation schemes for our vulnerable adults, increasing provision for children with special educational needs and continuing to deliver innovative renewable energy schemes in each town."

This year's budget is presented against a backdrop of the Council's five community priorities to; support our young people in need, support families and older or vulnerable people, create the conditions for economic recovery and investment, support town centres, villages, and hospitality and invest in the natural and built environment.

Residents highlighted regeneration and jobs as the highest priority for them in the Council's budget survey and so the council is continuing investment in the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP), Holborn riverside and major transport schemes that will improve connectivity.

The Council has also been hugely successful in attracting millions of pounds of external funding for a range of regeneration schemes and is making steady progress on clearing sites for development, with a focus on increasing footfall.

People's local surroundings are important to them and that is why the council has increased its footpaths and highways improvement budget by a quarter of million to £5.25m in 2022/23. Investment has also been earmarked for new litter bins and street cleansing budgets have been maintained

There is increased demand for affordable homes and the Council has committed continued investment in its own housing stock as well as building council homes for the first time in over a decade.

Cllr Bell added: "While we have savings to make, we cannot simply stand still and that is why we are targeting our investment in areas that will make the biggest difference and safeguard our high-quality community facilities for generations to come.

"We are a very lean organisation in terms of structure and capacity, but we are committed to the delivery of high quality, value for money services."