Title

FINANCE

Districts' warning on coronavirus funds

District councils need a ‘fair share’ of the government’s latest round of funding, or they face having to cut vital services, the District Councils’ Network (DCN) has warned.

District councils need a ‘fair share' of the government's latest round of funding, or they face having to cut vital services, the District Councils' Network (DCN) has warned.

The DCN has fired a warning shot to central government as it considers the best way to distribute the extra £1.6bn funding package to help tackle coronavirus, announced at the weekend.

Districts have been hit by rising costs of tackling the health and economic crisis, deliver services such housing, business support and increased waste collection costs.

At the same time they face plummeting income. The DCN is now claiming councils should receive a minimum amount of temporary funding. Privately, The MJ understands the councils have been calling or at least £1m per authority.

In a letter seen by The MJ to chancellor Rishi Sunak, DCN chairman, Cllr John Fuller, said district councils were 'especially financially vulnerable at this time'.

He wrote: 'As a proportion of our budgets, COVID-19 impacts are the most significant of any type of council in England.'

Cllr Fuller added: ‘With the coronavirus crisis becoming more than just a health emergency, it's an economic emergency too and our income has plummeted over the short term, a greater proportion than any other type of council.

‘We cannot run services on fresh air. The additional £1.6bn announced for local government is very welcome temporary help, districts need to see a significant share to prevent them winding down services when people and businesses need them most.' 

FINANCE

Reorganisation could break care services unless government gets reform right

By Cllr Matthew Hicks | 10 October 2025

New analysis raises serious concerns for the future sustainability, quality and cost of people-based services if excessive fragmentation into smaller council...

FINANCE

Delivery of housing can be turbo-charged

By Cllr John Merry | 09 October 2025

Cities and central government must work together to tackle the viability barriers to housing delivery, says Cllr John Merry.

FINANCE

EXCLUSIVE: District dead end

By Dan Peters | 09 October 2025

Just five district council chief executives have made the move to a unitary or county council since 2020, research has revealed as ministers push ahead with ...

FINANCE

DCN call for housing fund expansion

By Joe Lepper | 09 October 2025

A housing fund blighted by poor uptake among local authorities needs to be expanded, according to the District Councils’ Network (DCN).