Welsh Government announces £260m funding boost for councils

The Welsh Government has announced a funding boost of more than £260m for local councils in Wales to provide them with the certainty they need to plan for the remainder of the year. 

According to ministers, it will help cover increased costs, manage loss of income pressures, and will fund additional cleaning requirements for schools in response to the coronavirus crisis.

With the real possibility of further peaks during the autumn and winter months this investment will provide local authorities with the confidence to prepare their budgets for a potential second wave. The funds will be allocated on a claims basis.

The Welsh local government minister, Julie James, said local authorities have done a ‘fantastic job of rising to the challenges of COVID-19.

‘We have been working closely with the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and local authority leaders to understand the pressures and challenges they are facing, and the support needed to continue delivering good quality, integrated public services to communities across Wales,’ added the minister.

The WLGA finance and resources spokesman, Cllr Anthony Hunt, added: ‘Councils, and the vital local services we provide, are at the forefront of tackling this pandemic and have been under extreme financial pressure. This funding guarantee will give them the confidence to plan with greater certainty for the remainder of the financial year.

‘I want to thank Welsh Government for working closely with local government on this funding package, and for taking the time to understand the pressures facing local services.’

Photo Credit -Juliaavisphillips (Pixabay)