Coronavirus crisis to cost Derbyshire County Council 'at least' £50m

The coronavirus pandemic is set to cost Derbyshire County Council at least £50m, the authority revealed today.
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County Hall is initially expecting the loss of income and extra costs incurred as a result of the crisis could cost up to £32m by the end of June, and expects this to rise to at least £50m later in the year.

This figure doesn’t include any losses due to people and organisations not being able to pay council tax and business rates – but does include savings the council was planning to make this year but is now unable to do so.

Derbyshire County Council leader Barry Lewis says the coronavirus crisis will cost the authority at least £50mDerbyshire County Council leader Barry Lewis says the coronavirus crisis will cost the authority at least £50m
Derbyshire County Council leader Barry Lewis says the coronavirus crisis will cost the authority at least £50m
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Derbyshire County Council’s leader, Councillor Barry Lewis, said: “We’ve incurred extra costs right across the council’s services as we try to do our best to support everyone affected by the pandemic.

“I’m grateful for the extra support from the Government and expect that we will receive more funding to help us support those who need it most.

Work is now underway to revise this year’s budget to reflect the additional costs of the pandemic and our service priorities. I’d expect to have some proposals in the next few months.”

So far the council has been awarded £23m extra from the Government, and is waiting to find out what its share of a further national amount of £1.6bn will be.

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Extra cash has been spent on paying independent care homes more money to reflect their increases in costs, money to pay for PPE for front line care staff, extra temporary staff taken on to work in the council’s own care homes, money to pay for food for those who haven’t had any and set up costs for the community resource unit.

A total of £400,000 has also been given in grants to local businesses from the Hardship Fund – a figure which is likely to rise.

Coun Lewis added: “A huge amount of work to help those in need has taken place in a very short period of time and I’d like to thank everyone involved.

“I’ve never felt more proud to lead the council. Our employees, residents and businesses are all showing true Derbyshire spirit.”