South Yorkshire councils to get almost £6million to help fight impact of coronavirus

Council leaders in the county at a recent Sheffield City Region meeting agreed to split £5.75 million in order to help shore up the local economies.

The money comes from the ‘gainshare’ pot which is the annual £30 million given to the combined authority through the devolution deal.

The funding, broken down on a per-capita basis, gives Sheffield £2.39 million, Doncaster £1.27 million, Rotherham £1.08 million and Barnsley £1 million.

A further £740,000 will also be diverted into SCR to help with financial pressures arising from the pandemic.

SCR group finance director, Gareth Sutton, told a meeting today: “The pandemic has created unprecedented financial challenges for South Yorkshire communities, businesses, and the public sector partners. Left unmitigated these challenges could have profound consequences for years to come.

“A lack of intervention now could lead to profound lasting harm on the financial health of partners and the wider economy.

“In recognition of the fluidity of the challenge, it is proposed that in the first instance that the grant be offered as revenue funding, but noting that wherever possible it would be beneficial to broader investment plans for the grant to be drawn down as capital funding.

“The £740,000 resource for the MCA will allow for the targeted release of priority staffing positions that have been held vacant to support that position.

“This will provide much needed capacity to allow the MCA to properly play its role in the recovery effort.”

The second lockdown is set to end on December 2, but health bosses have said they are in the dark over what Tier three restrictions will be in place for people to live under over the Christmas period.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.