On Thursday, the government announced that it was allocating Elmbridge Borough Council a further £166,251 to support the borough through the Coronavirus pandemic.
This extra funding takes the government’s total financial support for the council since the pandemic began to £1.56m. Importantly, all of this funding is “un-ringfenced” – meaning that it can be spent as the council sees fit, responding to local pressures.
This is not the only support that Elmbridge has received from the government. We have also benefitted from £667,672 to support the vulnerable through council tax relief and over £120,000 to help prepare for the safe re-opening of retail settings back in June. Local businesses are receiving £27.5m in business rates relief and over £23m in grants.
Finally, last week we also saw the latest local statistics on the furlough and Self-Employment Income Support Schemes. By the beginning of July, the furlough scheme had protected the jobs of 16,600 Elmbridge residents, while 5,000 self-employed residents were receiving government grants.
Together with the measures announced by the Chancellor earlier this month, these figures show that the government is giving Elmbridge the support we need to bounce back from Coronavirus.
(Image: Dom volunteering with Central Surrey Voluntary Action (photo credit - Emily Mudie Photography)
