Dan Peters 18 June 2020

Coronavirus has turned 'financial cracks into craters'

The new president of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) has warned that coronavirus has turned ‘financial cracks into craters’.

Local government in Northern Ireland is estimated to be losing £10.5m a month of income due to hits to revenue streams like leisure, tourism and parking.

Speaking at his inauguration at NILGA’s annual meeting, Cllr Matt Garrett, said COVID-19 had ‘massively exacerbated’ challenges within the sector.

He said: ‘COVID-19 has exposed the extreme financial fragility of our 11 local councils and, as a sector, we are haemorrhaging tens of millions of pounds a month.

'The current model of government in the North is not sustainable and cannot continue.

'For too long, local government has been undervalued and misunderstood.

‘Financial precarity is nothing new to anyone involved in local government but it has taken on a crisis dimension this year.

‘The pandemic has turned financial cracks into craters.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Principal Accountant

Durham County Council
£47,181 to £51,356 p.a. (Grade 13)
Durham County Council is the largest council in the North East, we have a budget of around £1.3 billion which helps us provide services to more than 5 Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Mechanical Foreman

Durham County Council
£35,412 to £39,152 p.a. (Grade 9)
A vacancy has arisen within Building and Facilities Management for a Mechanical Foreman working full time 37 hours.   WHAT IS INVOLVED?    Within a co Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Occupational Health Physiotherapist

Durham County Council
£40,777 to £45,091 p.a. (Grade 11)
An exciting opportunity has arisen with Durham County Council to join our well established ‘in house’ Occupational Health Service in making a positiv Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Apprentice - Housing Management

Durham County Council
£14,566 per annum / £7.55 per hour (NMW in Second Year)
Earn. Learn. Qualify. Do you want to earn while you learn, with the chance of progression once you qualify? Do you want the opportunity to grow, devel Seaham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

School Crossing Patrol

Durham County Council
Grade 1 £3,383 (approx.) £12.85 per hour
Join our School Crossing Patrol Service! Are you punctual and reliable? Do you have good communication skills and a strong sense of community spirit? Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner