Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what support will be provided to offset the costs incurred by Salford City Council as a result of flooding which are not covered by the Bellwin scheme.

Funding to local authorities affected by flooding is provided through section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003 which gives local authorities flexibility to design their own locally tailored support packages, based on local need, to help individuals, small and medium-sized businesses and communities return to normality quickly.

Salford City Council received an advance communities and business recovery scheme grant of £526,320 on 29 December 2015 and a further communities and business recovery scheme grant of £931,921 on 8 January 2016. In addition Salford City Council received £279,297 for council tax discounts and £244,215 for business rate relief on 8 January to assist households’ and businesses’ recovery following Storm Eva. Second tranche payments on 8 January were based on the number of flooded properties reported to the Government by Salford City Council on 7 January. The Government will process further payments to assist local authorities’ flood recovery support schemes once a fully reconciled figure is provided by a local authority of the number of households and businesses flooded.

The communities and business grant, business rate relief and council tax discount recovery payments made to Salford City Council are separate to the Bellwin scheme which has been activated to reimburse local authorities for eligible costs incurred on, or in connection with, their emergency response to flooding caused by the recent severe weather. The Bellwin grant will be available at 100% above the 0.2% revenue threshold of Salford City Council.