Cornish MPs welcome £6.3million of additional Government funding
It's in response to the coronavirus pandemic and will be spent to help those in the Duchy who have been worst hit financially
Last updated 23rd Oct 2020
Cornwall Council is set to benefit from an additional £6.3 million pounds of funding as part of the Government's response to the covid-19 pandemic.
Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced in the commons on Thursday 22nd October that the Treasury will give an extra £900 million of extra funding to local authorities across the country.
This means that since the start of the pandemic, Cornwall Council has received £63.4million in extra direct support from the Government, helping to cover its coronavirus-related costs and ensuring it has the resources it needs to keep providing vital services.
“I am Pleased to see that Cornwall Council will receive an additional £6.3million funding to provide support for the challenges of COVID-19.
“This funding is un-ring-fenced so the Council can spend it one whatever they feel is most important, perhaps they could now allow our hard-pressed town and parish councils to access some of this funding, something which they have so far failed to do.”
Steve Double, MP St Austell and Newquay
This brings the total additional funding Cornwall Council has received to more than £63million.
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.
“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.
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.
“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.”
Robert Jenrick, Communities Secretary
MP's across the Duchy have also welcomed the additional un-ringfenced funding:
"As co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for local democracy I am delighted to see the Government come forward with more money on top of the unprecedented amount it has already provided for Cornwall Council, with Cornwall now having received well over £450million of specific funding during the pandemic, with over £45million going to Cornwall Council."
"I hope that Cornwall Council will use this funding wisely and ask that they consider allowing our already hard-pressed town and parish councils to access it, as they have previously been told they can do by the government, but regrettably almost completely failed at doing this so far."
Cherilyn Mackrory, MP Truro and Falmouth
“I am very pleased to see the Government provide more funds to support Cornwall during what is a difficult time for so many.
"This support comes on top of hundreds of millions already paid directly to local people and millions more paid to Cornwall Council to use on supporting the County and its services, and I am sure it will be welcomed by local residents.”
“Cornwall Council has responsibility for administering these funds, and I hope they will recognise that Town and Parish Councils must be part of any support measures.
"The Government have confirmed that the Council is able to support and work with Town and Parish Councils when spending these grants, and I hope they will take the opportunity to do so this time.”
Scott Mann, MP North Cornwall