Nus Ghani, MP for Wealden, has welcomed new analysis showing that local authorities across East Sussex have so far received an extra £129 million to support vital local services during the Covid-19 pandemic, with further funding confirmed for next year. This funding boost is part of the £1.2 billion of extra support that South East has received.
Over half of this funding has not been ringfenced, meaning local leaders can decide how to use the additional funds and which local services to boost with investment. This could include counselling services, delivering essential supplies to vulnerable families, and ensuring cherished green spaces are well maintained and Covid-secure.
Local authorities have also received over £2 billion in further grant funding since March last year to deliver specific schemes, such as providing emergency support for rough sleepers, preventing children going hungry, setting up local test and trace services and measures to make care homes, high streets and town centres Covid-secure.
In total, the Government has provided local authorities across England with more than £7 billion in additional support and introduced a range of measures to help councils manage pressures on their finances created by the pandemic, worth billions more.
A further £3 billion will be allocated to councils from April onwards.
Nus Ghani said: “East Sussex County Council and Wealden District Council have done an incredible job providing local services and keeping people safe under the most difficult of circumstances, but I recognise the financial pressures they have faced. I am pleased that the Government has supported council leaders across East Sussex with an extra £129 million since March last year, helping to protect vital services and ensure our council has the resources it needs to support our community. There is more to be done to support Wealden through the pandemic and I will continue to campaign for more funding for the constituency.”
