Government pledges £1.6 billion cash boost for local councils in fight against coronavirus

The Government has pledged an additional £1.6 billion of funding to help local councils in the fight against coronavirus.
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The Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick MP has today (Saturday, April 18) announced the additional funding as councils continue to respond to the immediate impact of the pandemic.

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In the strongly-worded letter Coun Miller expressed ‘deep concerns’ about the lack of funding for local authorities and even suggested the government would be ‘failing the country’ if it did not step up support.

Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick (left) has announced an additional £1.6 billion for local councils.Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick (left) has announced an additional £1.6 billion for local councils.
Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick (left) has announced an additional £1.6 billion for local councils.

Today’s announcement takes the total amount of cash pledged to councils to help their communities to over £3.2 billion – following an initial £1.6 billion announced last month.Sunderland City Council has estimated it could face losses of up to £20 million between March 2020-March 2021.

Today’s announcement is expected to allow local authorities to continue to provide essential services and support to those who need it most - including getting more than 5,400 rough sleepers off the streets during the crisis.

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It will go towards new shielding programmes for clinically extremely vulnerable people and assistance for public health workers and emergency services.

Making the announcement, Robert Jenrick has written to all councils in England to thank them for their continued efforts as they work around the clock to support their residents.

In his letter, he called council workers the “unsung heroes” of the coronavirus response who are helping to keep the country moving by ensuring vulnerable people receive the care they need and essential services continue.

He commented: “Today's announcement of an additional £1.6 billion of new funding to councils means we have now provided them with over £3.2 billion during this pandemic.

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“I promised Local Government would have the resources they need to meet this challenge and today demonstrates my commitment to doing just that. We stand shoulder to shoulder with local government and my priority is to make sure they are supported so they can continue to support their communities through this challenging time.

“Up and down the country council workers are the unsung heroes as we tackle this virus. They are in the front line of the national effort to keep the public safe and deliver the services people need. Never has this been more important and we are all rightly grateful for everything that they are doing.

“This new funding will support them through immediate pressures they are facing to respond to coronavirus and protect vital services.”

Councils will also be allowed to defer £2.6 billion in payments to central government and £850 million in social care grants will be paid up front this month in a move aimed at helping to ease immediate pressures on local authority cash flows.

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