ALMOST half a million pounds earmarked for community projects in Suffolk over the last year is still sitting in council coffers, it has emerged.The cash consists of lump sums given to each county councillor to spend on worthwhile causes in their wards.

ALMOST half a million pounds earmarked for community projects in Suffolk over the last year is still sitting in council coffers, it has emerged.

The cash consists of lump sums given to each county councillor to spend on worthwhile causes in their wards.

But accounts reveal that in 12 months up to the end of April, many councillors did not spend a penny of the money.

It is understood some council members are simply not sure where to spend it, while others say they are saving the cash for bigger projects.

Councillors were first given locality budgets in 2000 and a £1million cashpot is shared between the 80 members each year to spend on local schemes and groups.

But they decided not to spend £435,000 of the cash allocated for the 2001/02 year and that amount has been carried over to the current financial year. It means £1.435 million is available for councillors to spend before the end of April – of which about £200,000 has already been paid out.