Healey announces more support for flooded areas

Published	20 December 2007

Floods Recovery Minister John Healey today announced extra funding for those councils in flood-hit areas in the front-line supporting those who need special help with accommodation and care or other needs over Christmas and the winter months. This is on top of the action plan he has agreed with the worst affected councils.

He is making £1million available to the small number of councils with a large number of households not yet back in their own homes after the floods.

Drying out and repairing homes can take many months and there are around 9,100 households still not fully back in their homes - either living with friends or family, in caravans or in temporary accommodation. Around 1,800 households will be in caravans over Christmas.

In recent weeks John Healey has been working with the worst affected local authorities to get estimates of those still out of their homes. Last week he called a roundtable with the worst hit areas and a representative from the insurance industry where a number of concerns were raised such as the practical problems of living in caravans and wider issues about up to date information for displaced households.

John Healey and those present agreed a comprehensive action plan to help people still badly affected by the floods:

Local authority action:

Checks on those in caravans to assess needs
Better information to households still out of their homes

Insurance industry action:

Continued emphasis on effective information to householders about how long a return home may take

Central Government action:

Making our central homelessness advisors available to flood-affected local authorities.
Inviting councils to adapt their timetables for the multi-billion pound decent homes programme to help get their tenants back into fully renovated homes as quickly as possible.
Consider what more support we can give to the worst hit areas.

Councils have responded magnificently - in Sheffield all council tenants are back home; Hull are planning community support events during the winter months; Tewkesbury are half way through their survey of those in caravans; Doncaster are holding events over the festive period that brings the community back together.

John Healey MP said:

"There has been huge progress since the summer in getting flood-hit communities back on their feet and people back in their homes.

"Some people have criticised Government for taking swift action to support flood-hit communities. I make no apologies for this - it was right to act fast and right to allow councils to target the money on the most pressing needs in their area.

"The flood waters are long gone but problems for some families and communities continue. The Government is in this for the long haul too. So it's right we continue to do everything possible.

"The worst affected councils are bearing the costs of checks and help will be needed for those who are vulnerable over the winter months.

"Councils themselves are best placed to decide where support is most needed. They have raised a number of concerns with me, including the hardships of living in caravans. This means that everyday routine jobs like cooking the evening meal for the family or children having peace and quiet to do homework are made more difficult.

"That is why today I am announcing extra support to help the small number of councils with large numbers of people still out of their homes. I am making an extra £1million available for such councils to help the most vulnerable people and those in the most need through the winter months while they are not in their own homes. This money will be allocated to councils very shortly. I also want people to be clear about what other sources of help are available such as Community Care Grants and am asking councils to raise awareness of these options locally.

"I will also meet again with the worst affected councils and representatives of the insurance industry in January to assess progress and discuss outstanding concerns.

"This extra funding means that to date Government has made available up to £65million for flood-hit communities. More support will follow including further Bellwin payments."

John Healey and Housing Minister Yvette Cooper have invited flood-affected councils, and Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) to submit proposals to adapt their decent homes timetables and action plans, enabling them to address the new challenges posed by the floods as part of their wider plans to ensure that people in social housing are warm and comfortable.

Latest estimates from local authorities show that out of 48,000 households affected by the floods 39,000 will be able to enjoy Christmas in their own homes. But around 9,100 households remain in temporary accommodation - with an estimated 1,800 of these in caravans.