Powys getting fair share of Governement Covid support money, meeting hears
Assurances have been given to Powys County Council that it is getting its fair share of Government money to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
A report which looks at the 2020/21 budget up to the end of September said the authority had so far received £6 million from the £500m hardship fund.
This money went towards the increased costs of social care, homelessness, free school meals, PPE (personal protective equipment) and the mortuary facility near Builth Wells.
Finance panel chairman Councillor John Brautigam said: “Out of £500 million we’ve only claimed £6 million that doesn’t seem to be a high proportion of the total.”
Head of finance, Jane Thomas, replied: “I think the shows the different sizes of council and the different position they find themselves in, as a result of the pandemic.”
Ms Thomas said that from her perspective the extra costs incurred across all councils were being picked up in a “pragmatic way.”
She gave the example of the costs of setting up council staff to work from home.
Ms Thomas explained that some local authorities had to sort this out quickly at the start of the pandemic incurring extra costs, whereas, the council already had a well established home working system.
“We were up and running on day one with nearly all of our staff working from home,” said Ms Thomas.
She explained that at hardship fund panel meetings, decisions are made as to what qualifies for support.
Revenue
On working from home, the panel considered that some local authorities had “put the funding in themselves over many years.”
This meant that the IT funding was only given, up to a point.
Ms Thomas said: “As long as we’re getting what we need, I think in terms of what’s being allocated to each council is not a major concern for us.”
Mr Brautigam, added: “We’re getting our fair share?”
“Yes,” replied Ms Thomas.
A claim for £1.5m in loss of income from April to June has been submitted to the Welsh Government.
A claim for loss of income from July to September needs to be sent to the Welsh Government by early November.
This is to cover the losses from collecting money for, car parking, licence, planning fees as well as rents, bus revenue and leisure centres payments. car parking, waste services, cultural services and school meals during 2020/21.
The report will be discussed by the cabinet on Tuesday.
