The funding is a result of the administration budget passed by the council earlier this year, with an additional £50,000 being allocated to each of the 20 council wards.

Councillors in each ward were asked to come up with proposals for how the new Local Action Fund should be spent, with final decisions being taken by the Executive Committee.

The first proposals have now been unanimously agreed at a meeting of the Executive Committee.

Receiving the funding boost in Ward 18 will be Hillhouse Residents’ and Tenants’ Group (£18,000), Burnbank Bowling Club (£2000), Earnock Resident’s Association (£2000), Supporting Our Community SOC (£12,000), Meikle Earnock Community Council (£2000), First Step Community Nursery (£4000), Terminal One (£2000), Community Links Hillhouse (£1000) and Community Links Burnbank (£1000).

Each of the ward’s primary schools – Neilsland, St Mark's, St Ninian's, St Peter's, Townhill and Udston – will also receive £1000.

Council Leader Joe Fagan said: “The Local Action Fund was agreed as part of our Building Back Budget and is designed to help each community with projects that can have a lasting and worthwhile impact for everyone who lives there.

“Local councillors were able to gauge from their constituents where the money could be best used, and I am delighted that we already have agreement for how the money should be spent in 13 of the 20 council wards, with the others to follow in due course.

“This extra funding in Hamilton West and Earnock will be spread across organisations in a manner that will see it give a boost to all parts of the area, all sections of the community and people at all stages of life.”

The elected members for Ward 18 are Councillor Mary Donnelly, Councillor Allan Falconer, Councillor Councillor Graeme Horne and Councillor Mark McGeever.