Reading will get £4.5 million of extra funding to help tackle coronavirus.
After previously receiving £3.8 million in funding to tackle Covid-19 pressures in March, Reading Borough Council (RBC) has now been given a larger slice of the latest £1.6 billion top-up.
The coronavirus crisis is set to cost RBC up to £17 million, according to council estimates, with £8.3 million of that covered by the government.
RBC could later need as much as £8.5 million more, if the estimates are correct.
The council last month outlined the costs of tackling the crisis in a new report which explained what action it had taken so far in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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This includes spending £250,000 on a temporary crematorium, £325,000 on the coronavirus community hub and food distribution centre and almost half a million pounds to accommodate rough sleepers in B&Bs.
Robert Jenrick, minister for local government, announced the additional £1.6 billion for councils on Saturday, April 18, with the specific amounts per council revealed this week.
Cllr Jason Brock, leader of the council, had, along with many other councils, called for further funding.
He said: “The current crisis has shown that local government can and does provide excellent public service for people.
“The demand for RBC to continue delivering for our town will only grow as the situation and its after-effects develop.”
Once funds have been distributed, councils in Berkshire will have received a total of:
- Reading: £8.3 million
- Slough: £7.6 million
- West Berkshire: £7.5 million
- Wokingham: £7.3 million
- Bracknell: £5.9 million
- Windsor & Maidenhead: £7.1 million
The Royal Berkshire Fire Authority, which had received an initial £125,000, will receive an extra £680,000.
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The government has now also announced extra funding for businesses, with every Business Improvement District (BID) across the country getting a share of a £6.1 million pot.
This will cover three months of funding and contribute towards operational costs, according to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Reading has two BIDs, Reading Central and Abbey Quarter.
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