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.

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.

St Albans District Council has been granted £1.46 million which is more than what councils in Hertsmere, Watford, and Three Rivers have each received.

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.

St Albans estimate that the government funding they have been allocated would cover a lockdown of eight weeks – and then only if the economy bounced right back.

They point to costs of £340,000 and losses of income of £150,000 a week. And they say they are hoping for additional government support in the near future.

Councillor Karen Young, responsible for resources at St Albans City and District Council, said: "The Covid-19 emergency has resulted in both increased spending and reduced revenues.

"We have incurred costs of around £340,000 because of the extra work we have been doing to protect the community.

"This includes arranging accommodation for rough sleepers and providing help to voluntary organisations.

"There have been extra costs, too, in assisting Hertfordshire County Council and our Local Resilience Forum in various activities including the distribution of food parcels and IT costs in helping staff work from home.

"In addition, we are losing income of around £150,000 a week as our revenues from services such as car parks and leisure centres have been disrupted.

"The extra government funding will only cover our budget shortfall if the lockdown lasts no more than eight weeks and the economy recovers immediately to where it was before.

"As that is unlikely, we are hoping – as are other local authorities – that there will be more Government support in the near future."