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Caerphilly Council is looking for candidates to oversee how £20 million will be spent on regeneration projects in the north of the county borough.

The UK Government’s Pride in Place fund will provide a decade of funding to the communities of Aberbargoed, Bargoed, and New Tredegar to make long-term improvements.

Spending plans will be devised by an independent neighbourhood board, which will also include the local MP and at least one ward councillor.

The local authority is now seeking expressions of interest for the role of chairperson of the independent board.

Once it has been set up, the board will work with communities to decide how the money can best be spent.

Senior councillors, who proposed the northern borough as a target area for investment, have welcomed the plans.

A council report shows the board could include residents, traders, campaigners and “those with a deep connection to the area”.

Most of the £20 million will be allocated for capital spending, on physical projects.

Speaking previously, Caerphilly Council leader Jamie Pritchard hoped the funding would go some way towards addressing “systemic deprivation”.

“I’m sure we want to see all areas of our borough improve and try to equalise that as much as possible – a fairer society is a better society,” he told cabinet colleagues in December, when the three communities were chosen to receive the money.

Steve Reed, the UK Government’s secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, called the Pride in Place funding “a new way of delivering change”.

“Beyond funding, the Pride in Place strategy sets out a range of new powers and tools that communities can use to renew their neighbourhoods and high streets,” he added.

“These new powers mean that it’s local people who will decide how best to restore pride in their areas.”

Anyone interested in applying for the role of chairperson should contact the council to discuss the eligibility criteria and how to apply, by emailing prideinyourplace@caerphilly.gov.uk

The council noted the role is voluntary, but reasonable expenses can be paid.

The deadline for expressions of interest is April 30.