Allocations of £1bn confirmed for councils this winter

Robert Jenrick has confirmed allocations for individual councils from the £1 billion of additional support announced by the Prime Minister earlier this month.

The Local Government Secretary said that over £900 million of the funding will be provided to councils for their ongoing work to support communities during the pandemic. It brings the total funding given to councils since the start of the pandemic, to help with spending pressures, to £5.7 billion including a £1.1 billion Infection Control Fund.

Additionally, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has also confirmed that £100 million will be used to introduce a new fund which will support council leisure centres most in need. Further details on the scheme will be set out shortly.

Jenrick 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.”

Richard Watts, chair of the LGA’s Resources Board, said: “It is good that the government is providing further funding to help councils meet Covid-19 cost pressures. This much-needed support is helpful but significant challenges remain. It is vital that the government addresses in full the financial challenges facing councils as a result of the pandemic, including all lost income and local tax losses.

“The immediate funding allocated for leisure centres will also help these services through the most difficult period they have faced, and enable them to be kept open in the short-term for the most disadvantaged communities who rely on them most.

“However, social distancing means leisure services will continue to face a challenging financial position for the foreseeable future. That is why it is also vital the government’s Spending Review also provides further investment so councils can protect and improve local services both this and next year, including leisure facilities.”

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “It’s vital that we keep ourselves fighting fit through the winter months and local authority leisure centres are crucial to this. This £100 million fund will help keep leisure centres across the country open. I urge leisure centres to bid for the money and people to make the most of these precious local facilities.”