THE North-East is set to receive more than £130 million to help local authorities fight the impacts of coronavirus.

Government measures to tackle Covid-19 included £1.6 billion to support council services.

And a further £500m Hardship Fund was also confirmed in last month’s budget by the Chancellor specifically to provide council tax relief to the most vulnerable households.

Across the region’s 12 local authority areas, stretching from Teesside to Northumberland, a combined total of £38m from the Hardship Fund is set to go to families struggling to pay council tax bills during the outbreak.

And almost £93m in ‘emergency funding’ is expected to be distributed to council chiefs across the North-East, as well as fire authority bosses, on top of this.

Bosses at Durham County Council said it was ‘too early’ to say exactly how the money would be spent in the county, but added ‘key services such as social care’ were likely to be prioritised.

Robert Jenrick, the Local Government Secretary, said: “The work of local authorities to deliver social care and other vital public services has never been more important than it is now, and will be, in the days and weeks ahead.

“That’s why we’re giving local councils £1.6 billion of additional funding to spend where it’s needed most, to ensure they can meet the cost of the increased demand for social care, and continue to protect the most vulnerable people in society.”

North-East 'emergency funding' allocations:

  • Darlington: £3,306,050
  • County Durham: £18,588,256
  • Gateshead: £7,593,354
  • Hartlepool: £3,404,116
  • Middlesbrough: £5,200,178
  • Newcastle: £10,284,271
  • Northumberland: £10,025,450
  • North Tyneside: £6,822,324
  • Redcar: £4,806,308
  • South Tyneside: £6,171,973
  • Stockton: £5,594,001
  • Sunderland: £10,592,357
  • County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority: £125,448
  • Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority: £273,779
  • Cleveland Fire Authority: £164,936

Total: £92,952,801

North East Hardship Fund allocations:

  • Darlington: £1,305,968
  • County Durham: £6,964,443
  • Gateshead: £2,672,418
  • Hartlepool: £1,864,342
  • Middlesbrough: £2,832,262
  • Newcastle: £6,157,231
  • Northumberland: £3,381,563
  • North Tyneside: £2,023,970
  • Redcar: £1,847,925
  • South Tyneside: £2,497,669
  • Stockton: £2,440,212
  • Sunderland: £4,195,687

Total: £38,183,690