ST HELENS Borough Council will be making some “tough decisions” very shortly as it looks to balance the books, the councillor who oversees the authority’s finances has warned.

The council is currently developing an emergency budget in response to the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on its finances.

This has placed all services under review, although the council has not yet revealed the areas that are under threat.

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On Wednesday, the council’s cabinet was presented with the performance outturn report for 2019/20, which provides performance analysis for every council portfolio, and shows number of areas that are off target.

Cllr Martin Bond, cabinet member for finance, said: “The last report of this type came before cabinet on 27th May, and that informed cabinet that the COVID-19 pandemic had significantly impeded the council’s ability to set meaningful targets and review its measures of performance.

“Although the impact of COVID on outturn performance 2019-20 was limited, the majority of indicators are now being impacted to varying degrees by the current situation.”

Cllr Bond told portfolio holders to concentrate on the areas highlighted in the performance outturn report on the areas that require attention.

“We should challenge ourselves and our officers in these areas to improve performance,” the Labour councillor said.

“Particularly in light of some tough decisions we’ll be making very shortly in terms of balancing this year’s budget.”

By September, the council has projected losses of £36 million due to its response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Today, the council learned it will receive an additional £1.8 million in additional emergency funding, bringing the total amount received from central government to £13.2 million.

That means the council still faces a funding gap of £22.8 million.

St Helens Borough Council leader, David Baines, took to social media to voice his dismay at the funding allocation.

“Two weeks ago I branded the latest funding pledge from government for local councils an insult,” Cllr Baines wrote.

“Well today we’ve had confirmation St Helens is getting just £1.8 million.

“This is worse than insulting. It’s deliberately pushing essential services over a cliff edge.

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“This latest funding is the smallest allocation we’ve received yet, and brings the total amount to £13 million. It sounds a lot but it’s not enough.

“It leaves a funding gap for St Helens of around £23 million.

“Libraries, children’s services, social care, and all the many other essential services our council provides are being left to ruin by government.”