Breaking News Today can report that following the news that English councils were on the brink of financial failure, the government announced that they would bail out councils across England and supply them with the funding. Many councils were already under strain, having to cut back to make savings, and the pandemic hasn’t lessened that burden. The pressure to help those most vulnerable, including helping get rough sleepers off the street, is more critical than ever, but the lack of leisure and planning services has meant that any income they had has dried up.
Islington Council in London was one of the first to announce that it had already spent an extra £5.4 million since the start of COVID-19 but lost more than £8.4m income tax from other avenues such as parking and council tax. Islington council leader, Richard Watts, said in a letter sent to the prime minister, “We simply cannot continue to deliver the vital services local people need and deserve.”
He continues to say, “It would be wrong and unacceptable if councils are then forced to make further cutbacks to the very services that will have helped the nation through this crisis.”
In response, Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick confirmed on the 18th April that a further £1.6 billion in funding would enable them to continue providing frontline services and support for those who are in need of it most, stating “Councils are playing a central role in our national fight against coronavirus and the government continues to back them at this challenging time.”
The additional funding from the government will mean that councils now have £3.2 billion to help them deal with the effects of the coronavirus. The allocations for each English council have now been confirmed.
Yesterday, on Tuesday, 28th April, the government released the COVID-19 funding allocations on their website. The document clearly sets out the allocations for each of the local authorities, with figures for both the first portion of COVID-19 funding alongside the second and the total figure also being displayed.
According to Jenrick, the allocations for each district was split in the “fairest way possible recognising the latest and best assessment of the pressure they face.”
The government has taken into account the population of the area but also the latest assessments carried out taking a look at the struggles and challenges they are facing. Those in need of it most, to look after the truly most vulnerable, have been allocated more.
How councils spend the money will be down to them, as the government announced that the funding would not be ringfenced. They will be best placed to make the decision on where to place the funding based on the pressures they individually are facing currently.
Many councils’ efforts will likely be to provide vital services for adult social care and children’s services, public health workforce, fire and rescue services, as well as those clinically vulnerable to help free up vital hospital beds.
With more deaths being announced in nursing homes than ever before, this funding will enable councils to provide essentials to those most vulnerable.
The government has said that it will continue working closely with the councils on how to best approach the next financial year.
