Cheshire East Council's leader, Councillor Sam Corcoran, has issued an SOS to the Chancellor to look at a shortfall in council funding due to the impact of Covid.

Cllr Corcoran says the impact of Covid and the implications on services are here to stay and he has urged the Government to honour previous assurances that councils would not be worse off.

His comments come as the leaders of local authorities in Cheshire and Warrington, along with the chair of the local enterprise partnership, have submitted their proposals to the Chancellor's forthcoming spending review.

It sets out ambitious plans to make Cheshire and Warrington the healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive and growing part of the country.

It also highlights the urgent need for the Chancellor to address the ever-growing funding shortfall faced by local authorities as they help their local communities recover from the worst crisis since the Second World War.

Cllr Sam Corcoran said: "Covid will continue to have a long-term impact on the incomes of local authorities, whilst the increase in the cost and greater demand for services all adds to the existing pressure on public services and finances.

"We urge the Chancellor to take account of the impact of Covid on local government finances and to honour previous commitments that no councils will be financially worse off as a result of tackling the pandemic."

Councillor Russ Bowden, chair of the Leading Cheshire and Warrington Board and leader of Warrington Borough Council, said:

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"Despite 10 years of austerity, local authorities responded magnificently to Covid, deploying all of their available resources to help their communities get through the crisis.

"They now need the Chancellor to restore the finances of local authorities so that they can help their communities and businesses recover.

"Local authorities are facing unprecedented demand for social care for adults and children, which we are struggling to fund from depleted budgets.

"We can't afford to tackle climate change by improving the insulation in social housing and provide tenants with affordable warmth or tackle a growing homelessness and mental health crisis."