Council budgets stretched due to coronavirus crisis
THE cost of the coronavirus pandemic on council budgets is expected to “significantly exceed” current funding support.
Almost £1m has been awarded to East Renfrewshire Council from the Scottish Government’s £ 50m hardship fund and council chiefs expect around £3m from the £155m Barnett consequentials now being shared out to local authorities.
Around £ 890,000 has been received from the Scottish Government for use by East Renfrewshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).
But a report reveals “the extra pressures faced by the council” are expected to rise beyond these funding allocations.
Additional costs, a reduction in income streams and the response to the pandemic “will also prevent some planned 2020/21 savings from being implemented”.
Councillors agreed a budget in February which plugged a deficit of around £ 17m. A report on the financial impact of the pandemic on the council is expected to be tabled at a meeting on June 24.
At budget time, the authority revealed almost £210m was to be spent on capital plans over the next 10 years, including nearly £25m on six nurseries.
Construction work has been suspended during lockdown and council officers are working with industry partners on when work will restart.
The council remains committed to almost doubling the amount of free childcare available to families from August.
The report by the authority’s Chief Executive Lorraine McMillan sets out the council’s response to the pandemic and the impact on its resources.
Ms McMillan said: “Whilst these have been very challenging times for the council, our staff have been exceptional.
“Many have worked significant extended hours to make sure residents are safe and well. Others have volunteered to go wherever they are needed.
“Some staff have children to care for and are managing to juggle the various demands of home learning with carrying out their job.”
She added the work of care staff “must be particularly commended”.
The care home sector has been badly hit by the coronavirus outbreak.
Ms McMillan’s report states the authority “put in place enhanced support to our care homes from the start of the pandemic” and has daily contact with managers to discuss the issues they are facing.
East Renfrewshire’s HSCP has been at the “front line” in the response to the outbreak and recently established a testing team to “undertake enhanced outbreak investigation in all care homes where there are cases of Covid-19”.
All consenting residents and staff will be tested whether or not they have symptoms.
The HSCP has a centralised PPE store to ensure priority for front line services. In the week beginning April 27, 7460 masks, 7200 gloves and 1700 aprons were distributed to staff.
Between 250 to 300 children have been attending hub schools while a “minimum of 86 percent” of all pupils have been engaging with weekly digital learning, the report states.
Approximately 1350 parcels are being distributed on a weekly basis to those who would normally qualify for free school meals.
The Money Advice and Rights Team, which offers welfare rights and debt advice, has seen enquiries increase by 45 per cent for April this year when compared to the previous year.
In an update to the East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure board on April 29, it was revealed 85 per cent of staff had been furloughed, with 70 workers registered as volunteers.
● Non-essential small shops reopen with social distancing restrictions.
● Pubs and restaurants with outdoor seating areas open, provided adequate hygiene routines are in place.
● Professional sports such as football will be allowed to resume, in line with public health guidance.
● Places of worship will reopen for private prayer.
● Teachers will return to school to prepare them for reopening.
These have been challenging times for the council, our staff have been exceptional