Hampshire councils to get millions in funding to cover the cost of the coronavirus pandemic this winter

Hampshire councils are set to receive millions of pounds to cover the cost of the coronavirus pandemic this winter.

The government will grant just over £6m to Southampton City Council and nearly £9m to Hampshire County Council.

Each of the borough and district councils in Hampshire is also set to receive a grant.

The cash will be used to provide vital services this winter.

The government has also pledged to provide an extra £100m for council leisure centres most in need.

The news comes as civic chiefs in Hampshire previously said the county council would need an extra £52m from central government as it faces a £210m shortfall by 2023 due to the Covid-19 crisis.

As previously reported, the city council in Southampton also confirmed that it set to face a £45m shortfall by the end of this financial year.

Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick has now announced an extra £1 billion of additional support for local councils.

Each of the councils in Hampshire will receive a share of the grant, with the highest amount going to Hampshire and Southampton councils.

Robert 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.”

Here is how much each Hampshire council is going to receive:

Basingstoke and Deane £313,714

East Hampshire £100,000

Eastleigh £100,000

Fareham £100,000

Gosport £298,016

Hampshire £8,784,329

Hart £100,000

Havant £621,728

New Forest £204,463

Portsmouth £5,345,670

Rushmoor £301,590

Southampton £6,048,116

Test Valley £100,000

Winchester £100,000