Councillor Elizabeth Scott PROPOSALS to increase community budgets in order to boost local economic recovery and support projects go before councillors next week. Durham County Council’s Cabinet is to receive a series of recommendations including an increase to the Neighbourhood Budgets available to all 126 elected members, with each proposed to be given a one-off allocation of £10,000 to support the revitalisation of towns and villages. The council’s 14 Area Action Partnerships (AAPs) have supported thousands of projects across the county and brought in millions of pounds of match funding over the years. In addition they have provided essential support to community groups and volunteers during the difficult last 15 months of the coronavirus pandemic.