Residents in two areas of Sutton LBC will be handed complete control of a council budget and asked to vote on how the money should be spent, under a major pilot scheme that could inform the future of local government funding.

Sutton LBC launched the second phase of its 'participatory budgeting' pilot in the North Cheam and Worcester Park areas of the borough this week. Under the plan, residents will get to decide how £5,000 of council cash should be spent over the next year.