District and borough councils from across Hertfordshire have been awarded a £12 million funding boost from the government to support their response to Covid-19 - including £1 million to Hertsmere.

But many senior councillors are already warning that the 'significant' sum will not be enough to cover the additional costs and the losses in income, incurred as a result of the pandemic.

They say they will continue to make the case for further financial support in the coming weeks.

The councils were given details of their allocations earlier this week, which are part of a £1.6 billion package that’s been shared between councils nationwide.

In total £33.5million was allocated to Hertfordshire councils – with the lion-share of £21.7m going to the county council, which provides services like social care and public health.

It follows an earlier funding announcement in March in which the county council received £26.1 million – while local district and borough councils received a collective total that was less than £500,000.

Announcing the latest funding Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick highlighted the “central role” played by councils at this “challenging time”.

The borough of Dacorum has received the largest allocation of the county’s 10 district and boroughs, with £1,539, 696 while Stevenage received the least, with £871,563.

Hertsmere Borough Council has been allocated £1,035,939 million, following on from a £48,000 grant in March.

This grant of just over a million pounds is around £400,000 less than St Albans District Council, but more than what Watford Council and Three Rivers District Council will each receive.

Councils have welcomed the latest funding, which could be used to ensure frontline services continue, to support vulnerable residents, to support public health and to find safe places for rough sleepers to stay.

But many are concerned that it won’t be enough to meet the additional costs they face, as well as the decline in income from council tax and services, such as leisure, parking and planning.

Councillor John Graham, in charge of finance and property at Hertsmere Borough Council, says his council will continue to make the case for further support.

Borehamwood Times:

Councillor John Graham. Credit: Hertsmere Borough Council/Blake Ezra Photography

He said: "Whilst we are pleased to see the government funding contributions to local authorities in light of the coronavirus crisis, which will offset some of the additional expenditure pressures and income losses we are experiencing, we are concerned about the potential impact of this global economic crisis.

"We have already seen a significant downturn in our fees and charges and rental income from our assets as well as extra expenditure in direct response to this crisis. Extra pressure is also being placed on some of our services at this time.

"Despite these difficult times we are continuing to deliver our key services to the public as well as supporting our communities through shielding initiatives alongside the voluntary sector. We’ve now paid out more than £14m in grants to local businesses – more than 82 per cent of those eligible in Hertsmere.

"We, along with counterparts in other local authorities across both Hertfordshire and nationwide, will continue to make the case for further financial support in the coming weeks."