Hertfordshire County Council's budget proposals highlight ongoing costs of Covid-19

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The estimates associated with the pandemic are included in budget proposals for 2022/23

The Covid-19 pandemic is continuing to put financial pressure on the county council, according to council finance chiefs.

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And by the end of the next financial year, it is estimated that the cost of the pandemic to the county council will be in excess of £250m.

The estimates associated with the pandemic are included in budget proposals for 2022/23 that will be presented to a meeting of the council’s cabinet on today (Monday, January 17).

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That document highlights the council’s early financial commitment to support adult social care providers with additional costs associated with the pandemic – whether for additional staffing or PPE.

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It highlights Operation Shield, which delivered 120,000 packages of supplies to vulnerable shielding people – as well as the higher costs associated with the delivery of existing services in a safe way.

And it points to £19m of additional costs – linked to the pandemic – that the council will incur in the coming year.

That, according to the document, will include £12m for adult social care costs, and £5m to meet the increasing demand and costs of placements for ‘looked after’ children.

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It will also include £800k of lost income for the Hertfordshire Music Service and £800k lost to the county council as a result of reduced turnover during the pandemic.

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“Covid has had a huge financial impact on the council,” says the proposals, known as the Integrated Plan or IP.

“Costs for 2021/22 and 202.23 combined are forecast to exceed £250m.

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“Throughout this period, the council has done whatever has been needed to support our residents, and to cover the cost of that.”

Last July the county council ring-fenced £64.2m as ‘Covid-19 Emergency Funding’ – with £22,9 remaining to support the additional financial pressures in 2022/23 and later years.

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