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

Family Worker (Link Role)

Essex County Council
£31931.00 - £36423.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Family Worker (Link Role)Permanent, Full Time£31,931 to £36,423 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Assistant Manager

Wakefield Council
£42,839 to £46,142, Grade 10.
We have fantastic opportunity available for a Residential Children’s Home Assistant Manager. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Council Tax Officers - North Lincolnshire Council

North East Lincolnshire Council
Grade 6 - £16,765 to £18,501 per year
You will be working as part of the Local Taxation and Benefits Shared Service North East Lincolnshire
Recuriter: North East Lincolnshire Council

Electoral Services Officer

North East Lincolnshire Council
NJC15 - £30,024
Are you ready to play a key role in shaping democracy while thriving in a fast-paced, data-driven environment? North East Lincolnshire
Recuriter: North East Lincolnshire Council

Family Support Worker

North East Lincolnshire Council
NJC 19 - £32,061
Are you committed to improving outcomes for our Young People? North East Lincolnshire
Recuriter: North East Lincolnshire Council
Linkedin Banner