MP Julie Marson welcomes extra coronavirus cash for East Herts Council

Bishop’s Stortford’s MP has welcomed Government cash to help East Herts Council fill the budget black hole created by coronavirus.

The district authority, which estimates its deficit during the pandemic is at least £2.4m, will get an additional £174,594, taking its total support from Whitehall to £1,702,811.

Julie Marson, who represents Hertford and Stortford, said that the top-up was part of a £500m package of additional funding for councils in England and £4.3 billion in all.

She said: “The staff at East Herts Council have played a heroic role in co-ordinating the local response to coronavirus and I’m sure everyone in our community will join me in thanking them for everything they’ve done under extraordinary circumstances.

“Our Conservative Government said at the beginning of this crisis that they would stand behind our councils and I’m delighted that they have done, protecting local services and ensuring councils come through this difficult period with stable finances.

"This additional £174,594 shows they’ve continued to listen to local concerns and will protect local services in Hertford and Stortford on which we all rely.”

The Government has also announced a co-payment scheme that will compensate councils for irrecoverable income losses from sales, fees and charges. Where they amount to more than 5% of planned income, authorities will be covered for 75p in every £1 lost.

The Government will also allow them to spread their tax deficits over three years rather than the usual one to ease cashflow pressures.