The County Councils Network (CCN) has published a report on the financial impact of COVID-19 on principal authorities.
The report examines the impact of COVID-19 on county council (and county unitary) finances. Grant Thornton was commissioned by CCN to produce the report.
Grant Thornton analysed the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) county council COVID-19 financial returns to frame their report – the report is a summary analysis.
Key findings from the report were:
- There are unprecedented levels of unplanned for COVID-19 related costs facing county authorities.
- Some of the previously planned principal authority agreed savings plans are not possible to deliver due to COVID-19 cost pressures.
- There is a high risk that county councils may need to slash service costs to reduce the funding gap.