MORE than £6m could be coming to Redcar and Cleveland to improve the health, employment and well-being of people living in the area.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is being asked to approve the spending plans by the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund after three projects were put forward to the council by Redcar and Cleveland Partnership.

The programmes will concentrate on inequalities and health, new employment in building and construction, plus community safety.

Graham Brownlee, chairman of the Redcar and Cleveland Partnership, believes the projects are geared to making a real difference to the quality of life for people in the borough.

"These will generate greater access to jobs for local people and visible work to make our communities safer, such as neighbourhood wardens in partnership with the police.

"There will be greater resources to tackle health needs and improve lifestyles and initiatives, which support those most acutely affected by drugs.

"We have gone for larger schemes, which will have significant impact and work that will continue beyond a quick fix."

The partnership is made up of representatives from more than 30 of the area's public, private, voluntary and community sectors and aims to regenerate the borough.

The borough's two MPs - Vera Baird for Redcar and Ashok Kumar for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland - have also been invited to join the partnership.

Mr Brownlee, a Baptist minister in South Bank, has recently been made chairman of the partnership having previously served as chairman of the partnership's Neighbourhood Renewal and Social Inclusion Priority Group.

He said he hoped his enthusiasm and commitment would help achieve the goal of making Redcar and Cleveland a better place to live, work and invest.

He said: "Eight years of experience in South Bank and Grangetown have taught me that none need be excluded from shaping and receiving improvements.

"As a local resident, the most important measure is the benefit for the people of Redcar and Cleveland."

The total amount for the renewal package comes to £7.5m and the partnership will meet again in October to decide how the rest of the money should be spent.