FEARS over whether vital services in Renfrewshire will survive the Covid-19 pandemic have emerged after council chiefs revealed they are facing a £55million coronavirus crisis bill.

The projected cost has more than doubled in just over a month, with Renfrewshire Council now being forced to desperately reach out to both the UK and Scottish governments for help.

As it stands, the local authority is only expected to receive around £9.5m in funding – just 17 per cent of the estimated bill.

Bosses have also admitted they may have to look at directing cash intended for the likes of early learning towards recovery projects as they face an “unprecedented” financial hit.

Elected members have been told large parts of the 2020/21 budget agreed in March will be overhauled, with a revised financial strategy being prepared ahead of a September meeting.

Councillor Eddie Devine, leader of Renfrewshire’s Labour group, fears some services face being scrapped.

“Renfrewshire Council cannot be left to deal with this on its own without governments giving us financial backing,” he added. “It does not take a brain surgeon to realise £55million of cuts, which is essentially what they are saying, means some services will not survive.

“Governments need to realise that. Everyone knows councils have stepped up to the mark and the workforce cannot suffer because governments will not give us finances we need.

“I am sure Renfrewshire Council will survive. However, in terms of what we are able to provide to the public in services, I fear for them.”

The predicted cost is based on bringing in a blended learning model for children on their return to school in August – a plan which has, for now, been thrown out by the Scottish Government in favour of welcoming pupils back full-time.

A part-time model is forecast to cost £12m but, while a move away from this will provide some relief, the council says it will still face additional costs in supporting schools with new operational arrangements.

The scale of the cash crisis is revealed in a report to the council’s emergencies board.

It states: “Excluding the impact on capital costs and overall council tax yield, which will take several months for the actual impact to become clearer, the forecast full year gross financial impact for the council is estimated at approximately £35million.

“Including a credible outcome scenario for the impact on capital and council tax could lift this overall total to around £55million.”

Council chiefs say projected costs could still change as the crisis continues to create financial uncertainty.

A spokesman added: “Covid-19 has required an unprecedented response from the council and our partners.

“This has meant huge amounts of unplanned expenditure and a loss of budgeted-for income, which has had an unprecedented impact on our finances.

“We are supporting a national exercise to establish the financial impact on councils and engage with the Scottish Government over what else they and the UK Government could do to help bridge the funding gap.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said it will continue to work with councils, as well as pressing the UK Government for “urgent additional funding and flexibility for our partners in local government.”

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond

******************

Scotland is in lockdown. Shops are closing and newspaper sales are falling fast. We're not exaggerating when we say the future of local newspapers and the vital service we have provided for many years is under threat.

Please consider supporting The Gazette in whatever way you can - by paying just 90p for a copy of the newspaper when you're shopping for essential supplies for yourself and others or by subscribing to our e-edition here.