COVID-19: council finances

Information on council finances

LGA: Finance improvement

GOV.UK – 4/2020: council tax information letter, 5 November 2020

LG Inform – financial hardship and economic vulnerability

GOV.UK – COVID-19 local authority compliance and enforcement grant

GOV.UK – local restrictions support grant - guidance for local authorities

National Audit Office – COVID-19 cost tracker

GOV.UK – local government income compensation scheme for lost sales, fees and charges

Institute for Fiscal Studies – COVID-19 and English council funding: how are budgets being hit in 2020-21?

GOV.UK – technical note on local government finance COVID-19 package (pdf, July 2020)

MHCLG June 2020 financial information survey – breakdown of results (pdf, 251KB)

LGA – Key questions and issues for finance portfolio holders during the COVID-19 pandemic

LGA – COVID-19 council finance FAQs

LGA – MHCLG June financial information survey results breakdown (pdf, 10 July 2020)

LGA – HM Treasury Public Works Loans Board, future lending terms, response to the consultation from Local Government Association May 2020

GOV.UK – use of free early education entitlements funding during coronavirus

GOV.UK – local authority Emergency Assistance Grant for food and essential supplies

GOV.UK – local authority test and trace service support grant

GOV.UK – Towns Fund: further guidance

GOV.UK – allocation of £3.2 billion emergency funding for local government

GOV.UK – councils given greater financial relief against cash flow pressures

GOV.UK – letter from the Local Government Minister to councils setting out further details of additional funding

GOV.UK – letter to councils about extending the statutory audit deadlines for 2019 to 2020

GOV.UK – European Social Fund 2014 to 2020: Q&A on COVID-19 response

GOV.UK – advice note for Local Government: accounting for spend against the NHS £1.3bn: COVID discharge arrangements (pdf, 26 April 2020)

GOV.UK – timetable of forms for local authorities for spending and financing data

CIPFA – guidance for council chief finance officers who are considering issuing a Section 114 report (pdf, June 2020)

Institute for Fiscal Studies – the financial risk and resilience of English local authorities in the coronavirus crisis

Business rates and support

GOV.UK – £830 million funding boost for high streets

GOV.UK – guidance on business support grant funding for local authorities

GOV.UK – COVID-19: financial support for businesses (including local authorities)

GOV.UK – business support: coronavirus job retention scheme (relevant to local authorities also)

GOV.UK – Business rates: expanded retail discount 2020 to 2021: coronavirus response – local authority guidance

GOV.UK – Business rates: nursery (childcare) discount 2020 to 2021: coronavirus response – local authority guidance

For more information on business support, please see our business support page.