Government cash to help East Suffolk through pandemic

East Suffolk Council has agreed to a new scheme which supports Towns and Parishes when setting budgets next year.

Nationally, the Government is providing £670m in grants to support councils in respect of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on council tax income. East Suffolk Council will receive £370,000 of this grant, which includes an element relating to the effect on town and parish councils, estimated to be around £110,000.

Last week, East Suffolk Council's Cabinet agreed to a scheme that directly passes on the £110,000 to town and parish councils with allocations based on reductions in income from council tax to ensure that support is directed at the Towns and Parishes mostly affected.

Cllr Maurice Cook, cabinet member for Resources, said:

"The Council welcomes this grant funding from the Government and is pleased to be able to pass this on to town and parish councils. I hope that they will be able to take this funding into account when considering their own budget requirements and the impact of council tax on households in these very difficult times."

• east suffolk
• covid-19
• coronavirus