Councils allocated £1bn of additional support ahead of difficult winter period
Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed allocations for individual councils from the £1 billion of additional support, which will be used to ease pressure off councils during the traditionally challenging winter period.
The funding confirmation follows an announcement made by the Prime Minister earlier this month. The UK Government has asked councils use the new funding to prioritise the running of vital services and protecting the most vulnerable and public health.
Over £900 million of this funding will be provided to councils for their ongoing work to support communities during the pandemic, bringing the total funding provided directly to councils during the pandemic so far to £6.4 billion.
This includes £4.6 billion in unringfenced funding, £1.1 billion from the Infection Control Fund, £300 million to support Test and Trace as well as funding allocated to councils from the new Local Alert Level system and a number of grants to support communities and vulnerable people. Councils can also claim funding through a compensation scheme for lost income from sales, fees and charges.
Local Government Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “Since the start of the pandemic, we have backed local councils with the funding they need to support their communities, protect vital services and recover lost income.
“This extra £1 billion funding will ensure that councils have the resources that they need over the winter and continue to play an essential role on the front line of our response to the virus while protecting the most vulnerable and supporting local businesses.”
All councils will receive a minimum of £100,000, with the UK Government stating that the funding won’t be ringfenced as councils are best placed to decide how to meet pressures in their local area.
Spending pressure funding has been allocated based on levels of population and deprivation, whilst also considering the amount of funding each council has received from the government so far.