COUNCILS are starting to look at how much the coronavirus outbreak has cost – and early expectations are that by the end of June, Hampshire County Council will have spent more than £96m.

Of that total, it is predicted about £74.6m will be met from existing budgets, savings in some services and government money – leaving a shortfall of almost £22m that will come from council reserves.

And to make matters worse, it has emerged that less cash has been awarded to Hampshire per person to deal with the coronavirus pandemic than most places in the country.

Across England, the county placed 145th out of 151 local council areas for the amount of funding given to cover additional costs and make up for lost income during the outbreak.

The area covered by Hampshire County Council, as well as district councils including East Hampshire, was given a total of £68,180,991 across two separate funding announcements.

According to the BBC, when spread across Hampshire’s 1,376,316 residents, this works out as £49.54 per person, one of the lowest amounts in England.

The estimated financial implications for Hampshire were discussed at an extraordinary online virtual meeting of the county council’s cabinet on Friday.

Cabinet members heard how the council responded to the crisis, including coping with the challenges faced by care homes, caring for vulnerable children, supporting the local economy and re-positioning public-facing services.

Financial institutions like the Bank of England suggest the recovery could take years and cost far more in monetary terms than the outbreak.

And a report summary to the cabinet reads: “It is anticipated that once we move out of response and into recovery, we will face further financial challenges, not least from increased demand for services across adults’ and children’s social care, which will not be fully quantified for some time to come.”

But council leader Keith Mann said the council, and Hampshire as a whole, has risen to the challenge posed by the outbreak, and he is cautiously optimistic about recovery.

He said: “The pandemic has changed the way we each live, work and interact with one another in ways I could have never imagined.

“It is a difficult and anxious time for many people.

“But we keep going. We are doing what needs to be done.

“And I am truly heartened by the extraordinary efforts people are making to tackle this enormous and fast-evolving situation – at the council, at our partner organisations, within the voluntary sector and by each and every Hampshire resident.”

East Hampshire District Council hasn’t said yet how much it has spent on coronavirus measure, but it is due to get a total of £1,244,260 from the government in two separate payments.

Alton Town Council has, though, revealed it is looking at a £41,000 budget deficit as a result of lost rent, hire fees and sponsorship because of the pandemic.

And in a meeting of the full council earlier this month, councillors were warned this sum could rise if stringent lockdown measures continue after June 30.