Local MP Robert Largan has welcomed the news that the High Peak will benefit from a share of £900 million in additional funding for local councils announced by the Government. Derbyshire County Council will receive £3.04 million and High Peak Borough Council will receive £0.16 million.

This means that since the start of the pandemic, Derbyshire has received £68.22 million in extra direct support from the Government, helping to cover its coronavirus-related costs, and ensuring it has the resources it needs to keep providing vital services.

The High Peak also stands to benefit from a further £100 million, which will be used to establish a new fund to support council leisure centres that are most in need, in recognition of the ongoing challenges many local authority leisure centres are facing. 

This means that councils will have a £1 billion extra in funding this winter, with more details of the support for leisure centres to be set out shortly. 

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

In total, over £4.6 billion of the £6.4 billion in additional Government funding made available to 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 further additional support will be made available to areas placed under Tier 3 restrictions.

Robert Largan MP commented:

“The £3.2 million announced today is hugely welcome and will ease financial pressures on vital local services in High Peak and across Derbyshire this winter.

“I’m pleased to report that I’ve helped to secure extra funding for our local councils, to help us deal with the impact of Covid locally. I will always fight for the High Peak.”