GOVERNMENT plans allowing local communities to deliver their own services are to be piloted in rural Cumbria.

The Eden Valley is one of four local authority areas chosen to pioneer the Big Society initiative, giving local people the power and money to run services.

The other areas are Liverpool, Sutton and Cheam (Greater London) and Windsor and Maidenhead (Berkshire).

Prime Minister David Cameron made the announcement during a speech in Liverpool on Monday (19 July).

Local residents will be given a greater say over council spending.

Communities could also be given greater powers over planning permission and local public transport.

Projects championed include a local buy-out to save a rural pub and an initiative to set up a local broadband network.

The Big Society will be the “biggest redistribution of power” ever seen from Whitehall to local communities, said Mr Cameron.

A “huge culture change” will help people to help themselves and their communities, rather than relying on the government, he told listeners.

“We need to create communities with oomph – neighbourhoods who are in charge of their own destiny, who feel if they club together and get involved they can shape the world around them.”

Communities will receive advice from dedicated civil servants so they can overcome any legal problems or bureaucratic setbacks.

Local community leaders will receive special training to become Big Society organisers, encouraging neighbours to participate in the initiative.

They will also be able to use funds from the Big Society Bank, set up by the government to help social enterprises, charities and voluntary groups.

The money will come from dormant bank and building society accounts – believed to total between £60m and £500m.

“The potential problem is that you can lock smaller organisations out because they don't have access to start-up capital,” Mr Cameron said.

“Government has a crucial role to play in bridging the gap - and indeed, more widely, in connecting private capital to investment in social projects.”