The Government is providing an additional £1.6 billion to local authorities so they have the resources they need to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
Buckinghamshire allocated total of £14.9 million to continue providing essential services and support to those who need it the most.
Buckinghamshire’s five MPs have welcomed the announcement that the new unitary council will receive almost £15 million from a new £1.6 billion fund to make sure councils can continue to support their communities and deliver vital services through this challenging time.
The council is providing a wide range of vital services during the current emergency, which are putting an extra burden on its finances. Local MPs have worked hard to persuade the government to increase its funding, by writing to ministers and asking questions in parliament.
Buckinghamshire has been allocated £14.95 million from the latest tranche of funding, in addition to £10.64 million that was allocated earlier in the crisis.
Nationally, the government has now committed an extra £3.2 billion to local councils.
The additional support will mean Buckinghamshire council can continue to provide essential services, such as adult social care and children’s services, while also providing support to people impacted by the coronavirus. This includes protecting rough sleepers, establishing shielding programmes for clinically extremely vulnerable people and ensuring there is additional support available across a range of other vital council services.
This announcement builds on other government measures, including allowing councils to defer the payment of business rates to central government and providing them with a combined £850 million in up front social care grants, that will help with their cash flows so they can continue to deliver vital services.
MPs Dame Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham), Steve Baker (Wycombe), Rob Butler (Aylesbury), Joy Morrissey (Beaconsfield) and Greg Smith (Buckingham) said in a statement:
“We are delighted that Buckinghamshire will receive an additional £14.9 million from the Government to help cover the extra demands placed on it by coronavirus. Buckinghamshire council’s staff are doing a tremendous job under extraordinary circumstances, helping to ensure the vulnerable are protected and supported. We will continue to champion everything they are doing for our community and work closely with ministers to ensure they always have the resources they need to carry out their important work.”
Communities and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick MP said:
“Councils are playing a central role in our national fight against coronavirus and the Government continues to back them at this challenging time. That’s why I announced an extra £3.2 billion of support for councils to help them to continue their extraordinary efforts.”
