Local MP Alan Mak has welcomed the news that Havant Borough Council and Hampshire County Council will receive a share of an extra £1.6billion in local authority funding so they can continue to deliver frontline services and support to those who need it most during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Additional services provided by our local councils have included include taking rough sleepers off the street, supporting new shielding programmes for vulnerable people and assistance for our dedicated public health workforce and fire and rescue services.
Havant Borough Council has now received an extra £1.3million, more than neighbouring authorities Gosport, Fareham and East Hampshire; and Hampshire County Council £53.9million to help them through this challenging time.
Havant MP Alan Mak said: “I have lobbied the Government to provide this much-needed additional funding to both Havant Borough Council and Hampshire County Council to ensure that essential services are not impacted by the extra demands placed upon them by Coronavirus. I have spoken to Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick on several occasions and he is aware of our area’s needs.”
“Council staff are on the frontline helping to deliver services in the community and I will continue to work hard to ensure that our area gets the funding it needs to respond to the challenges of Coronavirus.”
The announcement builds on other government measures, including allowing councils to defer the payment of business rates to central government and providing them with a combined £850 million in up front social care grants, that will help with their cash flows so they can continue to deliver vital services.
Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick MP said: “Councils are playing a central role in our national fight against coronavirus and the Government continues to back them at this challenging time.”
For further information and Government announcements Alan has set-up a dedicated section of his website that will be keeping up-to-date with all of the latest information and advice he receives in relation to the outbreak of Coronavirus.
All the information is from trusted sources and includes advice from central and local Government; the NHS including Public Health England (PHE); and other public bodies and relevant organisations.
Visit www.alanmak.org.uk/Covid19 for more information. You can also sign-up to help with the community response by signing-up for Alan’s Local Volunteer Network. Visit www.alanmak.org.uk/VolunteerNetwork to find out more.
If you, or someone you know, feels unwell with possible COVID-19 symptoms use the online NHS 111 service https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19. If you leave home for work or are over 65 you can sign-up for a test by visiting www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Picture: Alan Mak MP with Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick MP
