CHESHIRE East Council has voiced new concerns that Government funding is not enough to cover the forecast impact of the coronavirus pandemic on its services.

The Government recently announced a further £500 million in emergency funding for councils across England. Cheshire East Council’s allocation is £2.7 million, bringing the total of Covid-19 additional emergency funding for Cheshire East to £22.4 million.

A report to the council’s audit and governance committee on July 30 sets out the current and forecast financial position in relation to the Covid-19 emergency.

The council originally forecast cost pressures on its 2020/21 budget of £60 million, which was later revised to £70 million.

These pressures are the result of increased demand on council services, the council’s response to the Covid-19 emergency and loss of income.

Current forecasts set out £42 million in increased expenditure. Nearly a quarter of this relates to adult social care, with significant increases in other areas such as PPE, home to school transport and maintaining recycling and waste collections.

The pandemic has impacted every area of the council’s business, with increased expenditure in services as diverse as homelessness, leisure, children’s social care and ICT.

Reduced income for services stepped down through lockdown is forecast to be around £14 million, relating to services such as car parking, registration of births and marriages, cultural services, schools catering and planning.

A further £13.8 million is forecast for loss of income from council tax and business rates.

Council leader Cllr Sam Corcoran said: “The council has really stepped up to deliver for the people of Cheshire East during the pandemic.

“But we cannot ignore the fact that to support people through this emergency we have had to spend money that was not budgeted for at the start of the year.

“We have received repeated assurances from government councils will be fully compensated for costs incurred in the fight against Covid-19, but are yet to see the promise meet the forecasts.

“Cheshire East Council is not unique – councils across the country are facing the same challenges. That is why we continue to work alongside other councils and organisations like the County Councils Network and Local Government Association to lobby government to fully deliver on their promise.”