A PARISH council which is inviting people to have a direct say in how it spends some of its cash says it has had an “encouraging” response.

For the second year, Oxenhope Parish Council is operating Participatory Budgeting, a process which allows members of the community to take part in spending decisions.

A council spokesman said: “The first stage of the process was to invite properly constituted groups in Oxenhope with a bank account to apply for maximum funding of £250.

“We received an encouraging number of applications and have agreed to arrange the next stage of the process on March 25 2015.

“This entails a public meeting, whereby funding applicants give a five-minute presentation promoting their application.

“Within these five minutes they can also give a brief outline of the work, aims and benefits of their organisation.”

All Oxenhope parishioners are welcome to attend the meeting, which takes place at 7.45pm in Oxenhope Methodist Church, West Drive.

Contact Oxenhope clerk Elaine Pearson on 079727 17058 for further details.