People living and working in North East Bedfordshire will benefit after Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Councils were given a share of £900m in additional Government funding for local councils.
The money will be used locally to help the councils cover coronavirus-related costs and ensure they have the resources needed to keep providing key services as we battle the Covid pandemic.
It means Bedford Borough has now received £18.8million and Central Bedfordshire £24.25million in direct extra support from the Government since the start of the pandemic.
Richard Fuller said the Government support is proving crucial to people living in North East Bedfordshire as it means Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire can continue to provide the essential services needed.
He added: "The £5.23m announced today is hugely welcome and will ease financial pressures on our local authorities and ensure they are able to continue providing vital local services this winter. Just like we said we would stand behind people whose jobs are at risk – with over £200 billion so far to project jobs, incomes and businesses throughout and beyond this pandemic – this Conservative Government is keeping its promise to local authorities and ensuring they have the resources they need to continue supporting people”
The funding has not been ring-fenced, meaning local leaders will be able to determine how to spend the additional funding in order to best protect public health, local vulnerable people and the running of vital services. In total, over £4.6 billion of the £6.4 billion in additional government funding made available to councils has not been ring-fenced, reflecting the Government’s view that local authorities are best placed to determine local priorities.
This is the fourth announcement of extra direct support for local authorities since the start of the pandemic. It forms part of an unprecedented package of support for councils, which also includes up to £465 million through the new Local Alert Level system, £300 million to support Test and Trace and £30 million for enforcement and compliance. Councils can also claim funding through a compensation scheme for lost income from sales, fees and charges and further additional support will be made available to areas placed under Tier 3 restrictions.
