People living and working in Basingstoke will benefit after Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council was given a share of £900m in additional Government funding for local councils.

MP Maria Miller said, ‘The funding announced is hugely welcome and will ensure the borough council is able to continue providing vital local services this winter. In the same way the Government is standing by people whose jobs are at risk – with over £200 billion so far to protect jobs, incomes and businesses throughout and beyond this pandemic -  this Government is also keeping its promise to local authorities in ensuring they have the resources they need to continue supporting people as we battle the pandemic.’.

The funding announcement means Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has now received £2.66 million in direct extra support from the Government since the start of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Basingstoke will also benefit from a share of a further £100m established to support council-run leisure centres across the country, which are proving key to helping the health and well-being of people in the area.

The new funding means local councils will have £1bn extra in funding this winter to help maintain vital services.

This funding has not been ring-fenced, meaning local leaders will be able to determine how to spend the extra funding in order to best protect public health, local vulnerable people and the running of vital services.

In total, over £4.6 of the £6.4 billion in additional government funding for councils has not been ring-fenced, reflecting the Government’s view that local authorities are best placed to determine local priorities.

This is the fourth announcement of extra direct support for local authorities since the start of the pandemic. It forms part of an unprecedented package of support for councils, which also includes up to £465 million through the new Local Alert Level system, £300 million to support Test and Trace and £30 million for enforcement and compliance. Councils can also claim funding through a compensation scheme for lost income from sales, fees and charges, and more support will be made available to areas placed under Tier 3 restrictions.