The east end of Sheppey is a step closer to benefiting from £1 million following elections for a group to oversee spending.

A formal partnership, comprising 10 people from Eastchurch, Warden Bay and Leysdown, was set up on Monday evening to decide on priorities for how the money allocated by the Big Local Trust should be spent over the next 10 years.

The new appointments still need to be agreed on by the National Lottery charity.

As well as putting together an action plan by December, a community profile has to be drawn up to show the area’s needs, which is being done by Swale council.

James Walker, of Swale Community and Voluntary Services (SCVS), which has been carrying out consultations for the Big Local Trust, said: “There are now people officially in place instead of a preliminary working group. They might apply for small projects first to show that things are happening.”

A prioritising event for residents at the east end of the Island to discuss existing ideas was held before the elections on Monday at Warden Bay village hall, Warden Bay Road, Warden Bay.

Mr Walker said he was disappointed as only a few people showed up in the morning of the all-day event.

SCVS will continue to work with the formal partnership until the action plan is finished in December.