A COUNCIL has rejected claims that it is deserting some of its most deprived areas.

Labour ward councillors have accused Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's ruling coalition of abandoning Grangetown, South Bank and Teesville in its allocation of capital funding.

A total of £118,000 has been allocated to six new area committees in the borough, made up of ward councillors, who will oversee the work of the council's newly-established Department of Area Management.

They intend to ensure that local needs and service requirements are delivered in line with public expectations.

They will look at levels of resources for services such as the warden service and how to ensure the cleanliness of the area, as well as discussing issues such as recycling.

But Teesville ward councillors, who will belong to an area committee covering South Bank, Grangetown and Teesville, say a decision to allocate the cash on the basis of numbers of councillors on each committee is unfair.

Their committee's area, with 14.9 per cent of the borough's population, has received the second lowest amount of the six committees - £16,000.

Labour Leader George Dunning said: "There was support across the council for the idea of area committees, but it was on the assumption that resources would be allocated between them on the basis of need, or at the very least by population.

"The communities of Grangetown, South Bank and Teesville will see this as a kick in the teeth."

Teesville ward councillor Sheelagh Clarke said: "I have never heard of the idea of allocation resources to spend in the community on the basis of numbers of ward councillors on a committee. The only equitable way is by population."

But Councillor Bob Stanway, cabinet member for environmental improvement, said: "There were four options, including allocating £2,000 per councillor, dividing it up by number of households or by population, and there was very little difference between them.

"We felt the most equitable way to do it was by councillor.

"The money is a top-up really, because most of the work is done through central funding.

"No one will lose out and the public will be able to have more say."