Barnsley Council’s £22m overspend due to “significant strain” of pandemic

The council has received £15.9m from the government, and has been left to fund the remaining £6.1m from its own resources.

The authority has lost out on £2.1million from car parking, rent relief on commercial properties, training / course fees, culture and sport fee income.

The cost of the pandemic totals £17.6m for the council, including £3m outbreak control costs, £6.7m in support to the care market and infection control, and £5m in business support, PPE and insurance costs.

The biggest overspend is in the adults and communities department, which reported an overspend of £6.7m relating to Covid-19 pressures.

Additional costs of £3.8m are estimated for ongoing support for adult social care, relating to the pandemic.

The authority has had to set aside specific funding within the 21/22 budget, as “it remains possible that Government support will be inadequate to cover the full cost of respnding to and recovering from the pandemic.”

A report warns: “Over the next three financial years it is anticipated that the Council will need to borrow up to £205m.”