TOP councillors in Newport are considering whether to approve more spending of £3.7 million on infrastructure schemes in the city.

It includes £1.6 million on the early-years Flying Start scheme for projects at five primary schools and two community centres, allowing it to support 774 more children.

A report over the proposals will be considered by Newport council's cabinet next Monday.

Flying Start aims to tackle child poverty with free, quality part-time childcare for two to three year olds, a health visiting service and other measures.

The money would be used to carry out adaptations or improvements at Crindau, Malpas Court, Somerton, Ringland and Millbrook schools, as well as refurbishment at the Mary Dunn Club and the Newport East Community Centre.

The Flying Start scheme currently supports 1,600 children in certain areas in the city and the cash will mean it can expand to work with another 774 children.

Welsh Government officials have agreed to grant the cash.

Meanwhile cabinet members will also consider approving spending for replacing three cars for community safety wardens at the cost of £31,000, and a scheme modernising the city's CCTV monitoring service so it can become a 24 hour seven day a week operation.

The scheme will be supported by £220,000 of borrowed cash and £10,000 in grant funding.

Another Welsh Government scheme, Houses to Homes, will see a total of £1.7 million allocated to a consortium of Gwent councils with Newport city council acting as a regional banker.

The cash will be used to provide loans to private sector owners to bring empty homes back into use over the next three years.