Responding to measures announced in Budget 2020 to help
communities, businesses and the economy cope with the coronavirus
crisis, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government
Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:
“The announcement of hardship funding and business rates
support is good news and will be a huge relief to people and
businesses who may struggle financially as a result of the
coronavirus. Councils will need maximum flexibility over hardship
funding to ensure it can be distributed as quickly as possible
and where there is most need.
“Council staff are doing an amazing job in hugely difficult
and fast-moving circumstances to help cope with coronavirus and
will continue to do all they can to support residents and
businesses.
“Keeping older people and those with underlying health
conditions safe from the virus will be absolutely
crucial.
“Councils have plans in place for every possible
scenario, which include looking at how they could best use their
staff and mobilise resources to continue supporting the most
vulnerable. However, a widespread coronavirus epidemic across the
country would inevitably have a huge impact on an
already-stretched adult social care
system. We are therefore pleased the
Government has pledged a £5 billion fund for NHS and public
services coping with the coronavirus and look forward to seeing
the full details.
“It is clear that local government needs the same
commitment the NHS has received from the Chancellor
today, that it will get any
immediate financial support it needs to help adult social care
services keep vulnerable residents safe and reduce pressure on
the NHS.
“It is disappointing that the Budget was not used to
announce councils’ public health grant for the next financial
year, which is only just over two weeks away. The public health
grant must be published by the Government with the utmost urgency
to ensure councils can not only cope with the coronavirus crisis
but to continue providing other vital public health services for
the long term.
“The LGA continues to liaise with Public Health England and
the relevant government departments regarding the outbreak. We
are raising councils’ concerns on a range of issues including the
impact on adult social care, emergency funding, support for
residents and staff, workforce capacity, the use of volunteers
and arrangements for the local elections.”
