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- Government funding reaches flood-hit areas
Government funding reaches flood-hit areas
| Published | 13 July 2007 |
|---|
Floods Recovery Minister John Healey has announced that Government money for 34 flood-hit local authorities will be available from today to help the people in the greatest and most immediate need.
The money is part of the immediate flood recovery package announced by the Prime Minister on Saturday to help vulnerable individuals and their families.
More Government help will follow, once councils and Government have a clearer assessment of the costs incurred and the extent of the recovery work.
Local authorities will decide how to spend the money to help flood-hit individuals and communities get back on their feet. The money has been allocated to reflect the relative number of households affected, although information on the impact of the floods improves by the day. £2million has been held back for further distribution. Local authorities were consulted about how the money should be allocated, the priority to ensure this reached authorities as quickly as possible and is targeted at those who need it most.
John Healey said:
"Government money will be released to flood-hit communities from today. This will support the work of local authorities to provide immediate help to those people in the greatest need.
"I've met residents, businesses and local authorities in the flood-hit communities about the clean up challenges they face. I know this money will help but I also know more is needed. Once we receive an updated assessment of the damage from local authorities more targeted help will follow, including enhanced support through the special Bellwin scheme.
"We worked closely with the local authorities affected, as well as the Local Government Association, to finalise these payments. This demonstrates our shared determination to work together to help life return to normal in the affected areas as quickly as possible. Importantly it means that support can reach those most in need without delay and make a real and practical difference."
This is a government wide effort. DCSF is working closely with local authorities on flood recovery for schools and children's services, and on practical help and advice for parents. In particular they are ensuring that where premises were damaged, children return to permanent accommodation as soon as possible, with safe and suitable alternative facilities in the meantime. DCSF will, if necessary, make available Departmental resources to help meet the costs of recovery work for schools, including cost of hiring temporary classrooms where needed. DCSF is also offering help to local authorities with surveying the building needs of schools damaged by the floods.
Other funding especially to help businesses has been made available by the Regional Development Agencies with £2.5 million in the Yorkshire and Humber and East Midlands regions. £1 million has been made available to help the West Midland's tourism economy recover. The first payments to business have already been made to support immediate recovery needs.
Notes to editors
A full list of the individual allocations is set out below.
| Authorities to which grant is to be paid | Amount of grant (£) |
| Kingston upon Hull City Council | 2,150,000 |
| Doncaster Metropolitan District Council | 1,600,000 |
| East Riding of Yorkshire Council | 600,000 |
| Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council | 600,000 |
| Sheffield City Council | 600,000 |
| Bassetlaw District Council | 200,000 |
| East Lindsey District Council | 200,000 |
| Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council | 200,000 |
| North East Lincolnshire Council | 200,000 |
| Chesterfield Borough Council | 200,000 |
| Newark and Sherwood District Council | 200,000 |
| Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council | 100,000 |
| Birmingham City Council | 100,000 |
| North Lincolnshire District Council | 100,000 |
| Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council | 100,000 |
| Lichfield District Council | 100,000 |
| Leeds City Council | 100,000 |
| Wyre Forest District Council | 100,000 |
| South Shropshire District Council | 50,000 |
| Derbyshire Dales District Council | 50,000 |
| West Lindsey District Council | 50,000 |
| Boston Borough Council | 50,000 |
| Selby District Council | 50,000 |
| Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council | 50,000 |
| Bridgnorth District Council | 50,000 |
| Malvern Hills District Council | 50,000 |
| Gloucester City Council | 20,000 |
| Harrogate Borough Council | 20,000 |
| Warwick District Council | 20,000 |
| Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council | 20,000 |
| North East Derbyshire District Council | 20,000 |
| Gedling Borough Council | 20,000 |
| Ashfield District Council | 20,000 |
| Cheltenham Borough Council | 20,000 |
| Total | 8,010,000 |
The £8m total is an initial payment from the £10m announced by the Prime Minister on Saturday to support the recovery work of local authorities in flood-hit areas. The rest will follow once we have an updated assessment of the damage.
The Prime Minister also announced £3million to meet claims from local authorities for help with the cost of repairing roads and bridges and £1million for grant applications to cover replacement of essential household items for vulnerable individuals and their families.
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