Coronavirus: Dorset Council seeks government funding boost
- Published
Dorset Council has seen a drop in revenue from car parks and other fees since the coronavirus lockdown began
A council has called for more government funding and said it was unlikely to "ever go back to how things were" before the lockdown started.
Dorset Council said it had seen a drop in income as revenue from car parking charges and other fees have dried up since restrictions began.
The authority's leader said extra money was needed from central government.
The government has previously said it will do "whatever is necessary" to help councils respond to the pandemic.
Council leader Spencer Flower told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that it would be "very, very difficult for us to stick to the budget" agreed for the financial year at the start of April.
"There's pressure on income, there is pressure on expenditure and we are putting pressure on government to help," he said.
"We have had funding, but all of us believe more government funding needs to come… our Dorset MPs are well aware of the need for more financial support."
Practical measures
Matt Prosser, the council's chief executive, said the authority would be looking to "reset" rather than resume business as usual after the lockdown restrictions end.
"I don't think we will ever go back to how things were before this pandemic started so we are working to understand what the changes are in our communities and how we support those," he said.
Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick MP has previously outlined a series of practical measures , externalto provide support to councils.
He said it was an "absolute priority" to protect vital services and that the government "stands with local councils at this difficult time".
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