NORTH-East council leaders have written to the Government to ask for more funding to help it weather the coronavirus crisis.

Authorities across the North-East and North Yorkshire have so far been given more than £198m by the Government, an average of £61.75 per resident.

But councils say much more is needed given the scale of the short-term pressures, and the costs associated with longer term recovery.

In the region, per resident funding has been highest in South Tyneside, at £68.66 per head, and lowest in North Yorkshire, at £52.85.

Funding for each council (funding per resident)

South Tyneside: £10,317,486 (£68.66)

Sunderland: £18,192,034 (£65.58)

Gateshead: £13,147,282 (£64.92)

Middlesbrough: £9,045,269 (£64.36)

Hartlepool: £5,963,213 (£63.95)

Durham: £33,153,953 (£62.91)

Redcar and Cleveland: £8,581,765 (£62.77)

Newcastle: £18,572,282 (£61.87)

North Tyneside: £12,531,141 (£60.84)

Northumberland: £19,105,111 (£59.65)

Darlington: £6,231,230 (£58.47)

Stockton: £11,022,621 (£55.89)

North Yorkshire: £32,479,280 (£52.85)

Regional average: £62.85

National average: £57

The Association of North East Councils (ANEC) has written to the Government asking for further funding, in a letter signed by the leaders of 12 local authorities, including Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council and chair of ANEC, and Heather Scott, leader of Darlington and ANEC vice chair.

The Northern Echo:

Simon Henig, chair of ANEC

It says: “Local authorities across the North-East are leading on Covid-19 response and recovery in their local communities in partnership with key stakeholders. We are also helping to lead the national response through the regional arrangements that are in place.

“It is extremely important that I set out a number of issues and areas for consideration which if not addressed will undoubtedly impact on our ongoing efforts to shape and lead the recovery that is essential to reinvigorating and regenerating our local economy and communities.

“We are very clear that we see local government leading place-based recovery across the North-East. We cannot do this alone and will need on-going government support for the financial pressures we are facing.”

This week the government confirmed how it would allocate the second £1.6bn package to help councils respond to coronavirus pressures, bringing the total handed out to £3.2bn across the UK.

Councils are facing pressures due to reduced incomes from council tax, building and facility closures and car parking, and increasing costs of PPE, care home fees, excess death provision and supporting local suppliers.

ANEC is asking the government to agree support to cover all Covid-19 pressures, provide recompense for all new applications for council tax support, increase the business rates floor to 100 per cent for three years and to support the sector with debt rescheduling.