Sally-Ann Hart, MP for Hastings and Rye constituency, has welcomed today’s announcement of additional government funding for local councils to support their response to the pandemic.
Locally, Hastings Borough Council will receive a further £839,823, bringing the total additional funding this year to £2,048,518. Rother District Council will receive £354,402 bringing the total additional funding this year to £1,523,054 and East Sussex County Council will receive a further £3,068,748 which is a total of £32,728,772.
Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed allocations for individual councils from the £1 billion of additional support announced by the Prime Minister earlier this month. Over £900 million of this funding will be provided to councils for their ongoing work to support communities during the pandemic. It brings the total funding given to councils since the start of the pandemic, to help with spending pressures, to £6.4 billion including a £1.1 billion Infection Control Fund.
Funding has been allocated based on levels of population and deprivation, whilst also considering the amount of funding each council has received from the government so far.
Recognising that councils are best placed to decide how to meet pressures in their local area, this funding has not been ring fenced. The government has asked councils use this funding to prioritise the running of vital services and protecting the most vulnerable and public health.
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.”
Sally-Ann said “I welcome the additional funding for the local authorities in our constituency. This injection of funding is vital to support the ongoing work of the councils during these exceptional times. I am especially encouraged by the funding to Hastings, where the need for additional funding is greater. Despite these extraordinary circumstances, I am thankful that the Government has made the commitment to our local authorities and local economies, and I will continue to argue for more support to our community in Westminster”