Government pledges extra £1.6 billion for councils

Councils across England will be getting extra government funding as they continue to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by providing essential services and support to those who need it most.

The extra £1.6 billion takes the total given to councils to help their communities through this crisis to over £3.2 billion.

So far, councils have been using funding to get rough sleepers off the street, supporting new shielding programmes for clinically extremely vulnerable people and assistance for public health workforce and fire and rescue services.

This announcement follows an initial £1.6 billion given to councils last month which supported the work they have done to free up vital hospital beds and deliver essential supplies to the vulnerable.

This has also helped get rough sleepers off the street and so far over 90% of those on the streets at the beginning of the crisis and known to local authorities - have been offered safe accommodation.

Additional funding will mean councils will be able to continue to support the most vulnerable people on the streets during the pandemic, deal with immediate pressures and provide additional support across a range of vital services.