BRADFORD Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe has responded to reports that the district is in line to receive extra support to help ease pressures over the winter period. 

Sky News reported that Bradford is among 20 local authorities expected to receive extra financial support and resources from Government. 

They said that from October 22, four local authorities including Bolton, Luton, Blackburn with Darwen, and Leicester, will be categorised as areas of "enduring transmission" for coronavirus and so will receive a tailored package to support them - potentially until March 2022.

The package reportedly includes:

• Access to testing capacity and communication support for targeted testing

• Support to plan and maintain public health workforces

• Capacity to support workplaces and businesses to be COVID-secure

• Vaccine programme support

• Data and insight support to help develop what works in the area

 

Sky News said it had seen another plan which would be in place for a further 16 local authorities - including Bradford and Kirklees - from November 5, but the measures would be evaluated after the first four authorities receive their package.

But Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe told the Telegraph & Argus this afternoon: “I’ve read the press reports myself but had no information about any additional support from the Government in relation to Covid-19 and whether that support addresses the particular issues we have in the Bradford district. 

“We’ve been out of the top 100 most infected places for some time now; so it is not just us, but many other local authorities who will be needing support. 

“We will be dealing with the impact of Covid on people’s physical and mental health long after we have this virus under control, not to mention the economic impact. 

"While we would welcome additional support, if it is forthcoming, we need to see proper funding to address the health and economic inequalities that exist in our district.”