More than £22 million to be spent tackling coronavirus in Staffordshire
More than £22 million is set to be ploughed into services across Staffordshire to help combat coronavirus.
Emergency measures have been drawn up by bosses at Staffordshire County Council to decide how to use the Government funds.
The cash will be used to set up a food distribution network, help recruit care home staff, support foster carers and to source personal protective equipment (PPE).
It will also see the construction of temporary mortuary facilities in the county, following in the footsteps of Birmingham Airport.
Council leader Philip Atkins said: "Staffordshire has always had an amazing community spirit and it is incredible to see everyone pulling together as never before to help not only family, friends and neighbours, but also to help people who until days ago were simply strangers.
"We have seen businesses close, people being furloughed or losing their jobs, residential care homes and the NHS face crippling pressures and some of us have sadly lost loved ones before their time, including frontline care workers to this virus, which continues to show no mercy.
"That’s why, as a county council, we will continue to do everything we can to help Staffordshire through the coming weeks. I would like to thank every person in the county who is stepping up to help us do this.”
It comes only two months after the authority set out its own budget and plans to reduce £64m by 2024.
Bosses at the authority have now said at least £10m worth of savings included in 2020/2021 will not be delivered – with the potential financial impact of coronavirus being more than £50m.
Councillor Atkins added: "Our Medium Term Financial Strategy was agreed before the coronavirus began to cast its shadow and it is clear that there is a significant risk in now being able to deliver agreed savings in the timescales envisaged.
"We are raising with Government the need to address the financial impact on our own county and local councils as we start to look with partners to rebuild services, businesses and our local economy.
"In the coming weeks, the challenge will remain huge and the toll on some will be sadly high, but I know that in Staffordshire we have the resilience, the resourcefulness and simply the sheer determination to see this through together."
