"These measures will help councils with their cash-flow as they grapple with extra costs, lost income, and demand pressures as a result of the pandemic."
Responding to new government measures to help ease immediate cash-flow pressures on councils announced today, Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said:
“We have been working closely with the Government on the financial pressures facing councils as they lead communities through the coronavirus crisis.
“We are pleased they have listened to our calls to pay some vital grants up-front and postpone business rates payments to central government. These measures will help councils with their cash-flow as they grapple with extra costs, lost income, and demand pressures as a result of the pandemic.
“Councils also need a commitment from the Government that it will meet all the extra costs local authorities are facing due to COVID-19 and to keep normal services running and compensate them for income losses.”