£1.6bn funding boost praised
in recent times.
The announcement followed the publication of a letter to the Prime Minister from Sunderland City Council leader Graeme Miller, who represents the Labour Party, which was critical of Government.
RobertOliver,wholeadsthe Conservative Group on Sunderland City Council, hailed the extra £1.6billion funding, which was announced on Saturday April 18.
He said: "Councils are on the frontline in fighting Coronavirus and this funding is deserved and welcome and comes in addition to a previous £1.6billion in extra funding to councils.
“There has never been any suggestion that councils would have to foot the entire bill themselves and they were only asked last week to make financial requests to the Government.
“This is a matter that I discussed with council officers late last week and I fully support calls for adequate financing, but this is not a time for political games.”
Mr Jenrick MP said in his letter to councils: “I promised local government would have the resources they need to meet this challenge and todaydemonstratesmycommitment to doing just that.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with local government and my priority is to make sure they are supported sotheycancontinuetosupport their communities through this challenging time.
“Up and down the country council workers are the unsungheroesaswetacklethisvirus.Theyareinthefrontlineof the national effort to keep the public safe and deliver the services people need. Never has this been more important and we are all rightly grateful for everythingthattheyaredoing.”