TEIGNBRIDGE is among the councils across Devon that have warned the £33 million extra from Government still isn’t close enough to plug their funding gaps with ‘a huge black hole of debt emerging and we are plunging headfirst into it’.

More than £36 million was provided councils in March by Central Government, and with £33 million more awarded in the second tranche of finance handed out.

Teignbridge Council was awarded £59,771 in the first round and 1,342,148 in the second, making a total of £1,401,919.

The additional support will mean councils can continue to provide essential services, such as adult social care and children’s services, while also providing support to people impacted by the coronavirus.

But with income streams for councils having been decimated and increased expenditure as a result of the pandemic, the additional cash will only partly cover the shortfall and only gives them breathing space, rather than any security.

Devon’s district councils were unanimous in stating that the first round of finance was not enough and that the coronavirus crisis and lockdown measures were leaving them facing significant and catastrophic financial pressures unless additional funds were provided by Government.

And while they have welcome the extra funds in the second round of funding, council chiefs have warned ‘it doesn’t solve the problem’.

Cllr Gordon Hook, leader of Teignbridge District Council, said: ‘Our income streams have simply dried up. Our leisure centres have had to be closed because of social distancing, so absolutely no money coming in. Our car parking income has dropped from an average of £95,000 a week to £2,500 a week. A huge black hole of debt is emerging and we are plunging headfirst into it.’

Teignbridge District Council’s managing director Phil Shears added: ‘We very much welcome this second round of emergency funding to support councils, which is an acknowledgement by the government of the vital support we are providing in responding to this emergency, as well as the immense and immediate pressure district councils are under.

‘Our latest settlement of £1,342,148 combined with the initial grant of £59,771 takes our cumulative sum to just over £1.4m.

‘This latest funding package is welcome and gives us just short of another couple of months’ breathing space, but it will not allow us to recoup the significant financial loss of income as a direct result of the lockdown.

‘Devon’s district councils will continue to work together to press the government for an assurance about how it will help district councils with this financial plight – as has been promised. The sooner we know the details of this, the sooner we can start to plan for the future with a degree of financial confidence.’