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Whitehall’s Extra £6.4 Million Takes Surrey’s Share of Pandemic Funding to £53 Million

Published on: 18 Jul, 2020
Updated on: 19 Jul, 2020

Surrey County Council is to get a further £6,368,952 from the government to help pay for its response to coronavirus.

Cllr Tim Oliver

Leader Tim Oliver (Con, Weybridge) said: “We have been busy over the past four months working with our partners to prev

ent the spread of coronavirus and keep our residents safe.

“This will ensure we can continue to deliver crucial front line services, support those most in need and continue delivering for residents.

“Surrey’s Local Resilience Forum has done fantastic work, contacting more than 30,000 shielding residents, delivering thousands of food parcels, and supporting our social care providers financially and with equipment.

“We’ve worked really hard to support residents throughout this tough time.”

Robert Jenrick

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “Councils are providing a lifeline for so many and supporting communities at a time when they need it most.

“That’s why we are giving them an extra £500 million, taking our total provided to £4.3 billion, and this is being allocated to councils based on the pressures they have told us they are facing.”

This additional support forms part of a comprehensive package of government support to help councils respond to the pandemic, including an unprecedented new scheme to help local authorities recover lost income.

Cllr Fiona White

County Cllr Fiona White (Lib Dem, Guildford West), commented: “I am delighted the government is releasing additional funding to local councils. Along with the NHS, councils have been in the front line of the fight against Covid-19.

“At the beginning of the pandemic, the government made a sweeping promise that councils should spend what they need to and they would cover the costs. Since then, they have not been quite so enthusiastic about meeting the bills.

“Councils at both county and borough level have not only faced additional outgoings for the support they have put in place but also the loss of income from business rates and investments with possible drops in council tax income as well.

“I am not sure this extra money will cover all those losses. Councils have been using their reserves but there could be a threat to services if all their additional outgoings are not met from central funds.”

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