It has been confirmed that St Helens Borough Council will receive a further reduction in extra funding for losses and costs suffered in the fight against Covid-19. The latest funding, confirmed today, will leave an estimated funding gap of around £23m for local services.
Council Leader David Baines says: “Two weeks ago I branded the latest funding pledge from government for local councils an insult: https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/…/18561924.council-leader-s…/
Well today we’ve had confirmation #StHelens is getting just £1.8m. This is worse than insulting. It’s deliberately pushing essential services over a cliff edge.
This latest funding is the smallest allocation we’ve received yet, and brings the total amount to £13m. It sounds a lot but it’s not enough.
It leaves a funding gap for #StHelens of around £23m. Libraries, children’s services, social care, and all the many other essential services our council provides are being left to ruin by government.”
The funding allocations can be read here.