A senior Harrow councillor has called on the Government to fulfil its “promise” of reimbursing local authorities for the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cllr Adam Swersky, who is responsible for finance at Harrow Council, explained that the crisis has set the borough back £36 million in terms of additional costs and lost income opportunities.

The Government has provided financial support worth more than £25 million, but Cllr Swersky said it is vital it covers the outstanding balance to ensure key council services are not affected.

He said: “Coronavirus has hammered Harrow– but our council has done everything it can to combat the crisis from distributing PPE to supporting the most vulnerable.

“That’s been hugely expensive but essential to protect lives and livelihoods.

“Harrow residents were told that the cost of Covid would be covered but the Government has failed to pay up.”

He also suggested it is simply relying on council tax increases from local authorities to help offset additional costs.

Cllr Swersky’s comments follow similar calls from Harrow Council leader Cllr Graham Henson, as well as those from councillors in neighbouring Brent.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “Councils have played a critical role during the pandemic and we are ensuring they have the resources needed to deliver effective services for their communities.

“Next year we’re giving councils access to an additional £2.2 billion to deliver services including social care and £3 billion of additional support for Covid-19 pressures.

“This takes the total support committed to councils in England to tackle the impacts of Covid-19 to over £10 billion.”

He added Harrow Council will receive around £6 million of additional Covid-19 funding next year and pointed out its core spending power had gone up by more than £9 million this year.