Haringey Council will face an estimated £70 million hit to its finances as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

Council leader Cllr Joseph Ejiofor made a renewed call on the Government to ensure it meets the costs faced by the local authority amid warnings of a “deep recession” following the pandemic.

Local authorities have been on the front line of the Covid-19 response, distributing food to vulnerable people, supporting businesses, providing emergency accommodation for rough sleepers and carrying out other actions to support residents.

Haringey Council has so far received more than £15 million of emergency grant funding from the Government to support these efforts.

But that leaves the council’s general fund £30 million worse off as it stands, in addition to a £16 million income collection deficit and an £8 million Housing Revenue Account loss.

In March, local government secretary Robert Jenrick told council leaders the Government “stands ready to do whatever is necessary to support councils in their response to coronavirus”.

On May 4, Mr Jenrick told a House of Commons select committee councils would be “fully compensated” for “specific things” the Government asked them to do to tackle Covid-19 but would not commit to covering additional costs until more information was available.

Haringey Council wants the Government to fully reimburse local authorities for the costs they have incurred due to the pandemic.

Cllr Ejiofor said: “Experts are warning there will be a deep recession and even more challenging times in the future.

“This local authority, like all other councils, must balance our books and we need the assurance that national government will keep to it’s word and fund local government appropriately.

“Westminster were adamant that we have to protect our residents and stop the spread of this global virus. Local authorities were told that we should do what is necessary and that national government would reimburse us later. This was the right thing to do to protect all residents and the NHS, but we are aware that it is public money and we are spending it wisely.

“One of the significant issues is how we move away from this crisis to create a sustainable model going forward. Our approach will include working with the voluntary and community sector and partners. We need to work with local businesses, help the local high streets and socially regenerate our borough.

“Councils must focus on delivering services on the front line now – we can’t be looking over our shoulders worrying about how we pay for it tomorrow.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We’re giving councils an unprecedented package of support, including £3.2 billion emergency funding, to tackle the pressures they have told us they’re facing.

“This is on top of English councils’ core spending power rising by over £2.9 billion this financial year, and today (Friday, May 29) we announced a further £600 million to help reduce the infection rate in care homes.

“Haringey Council has received more than £15.46 million of this to deal with the pressures of coronavirus, while their core spending power rose by a combined total of almost £12.98 million this financial year even before additional emergency funding was announced.

“The Government will continue to work closely with councils as the pandemic progresses to develop an ongoing assessment of costs as they support their communities through this national emergency.”