Sirs,
The government has shaken its money tree and is pledged to provide billions of pounds to support those working to limit the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and lock-down.
The government gave local authorities £1.6billion additional funding – aimed mainly at stopping some councils falling into bankruptcy because the pandemic has cut their day-to-day cash income (from council tax, rents and even parking charges).
Over last weekend, the government announced a further £1.6billion for local authorities “as they continue to respond to the coronavirus pandemic”. As the government website puts it: “This includes getting rough sleepers off the street, supporting new shielding programmes for clinically extremely vulnerable people and assistance for our heroic public health workforce and fire and rescue services.”
All well and good. But none of this money will filter down to town councils. Marlborough Town Council has organised a huge team of volunteers to do much of the work in our area that Wiltshire Council should do – including visiting the vulnerable and care homes and delivering food. There is nothing wrong with that. Volunteer support is part of what will help us all survive this horror.
But Marlborough Town Council has to bear the costs of this volunteer programme from its existing budgets. It may need to be explained to ministers, the Treasury and Wiltshire Council that volunteer work brings with it costs – many minor and some not so minor. Once the cash goes into the unitary council’s bank account, there is no chance of ‘trickle down’ to town councils.
We know we are a long way from Trowbridge, but it would be good to see the vital efforts of town councils repaid in cash. As we have seen with the NHS, Thursday’s clapping gives excellent support, but in many instances it is no substitute for cash.
Yours,
Tony Millett
Clench Common
From the front line – what’s happening elsewhere: a farm in Shropshire
