How Salford's finance chief plans to plug a multi-million pound budget gap caused by Covid
A Salford council chief has explained how the town hall plans to plug a multi-million pound gap in the budget for this year caused by the coronavirus crisis.The local authority projected an £11m shortfall in the first quarter of this financial year, but since then, it has been given £7.6m by the government.The fourth round of emergency funding for the councils, allocated according to a needs-based formula, puts the borough in a better position than others.Chief finance officer Joanne Hardman said the sum was more than expected.But Salford City Council must still find more than £3m to balance the budget, with further financial pressures expected to be felt over the next three years.The biggest concern is a fall in revenue from council tax