By Tash Shifrin
27 July 2009
Local authorities have warned the government that they do not have the cash to take on new responsibilities for tackling flooding.
The government’s draft Floods and Water Bill will give councils the lead role in managing flood risk, making sure drainage systems work and protecting people’s homes.
The Bill would put into law the recommendations of Sir Michael Pitt’s review, carried out after the devastating floods that hit Britain in the summer of 2007.
But the Local Government Association warned that councils do not have the money to carry out the role. It reacted angrily to suggestions that the work could be paid for from money ‘saved’ from the clear-up costs after flooding.
Paul Bettison, chair of the LGA’s environment board, said the government should ‘take another look at its calculations’. He argued: ‘When councils spend money clearing up after floods it comes from budgets for other services, so it is wrong to say that councils can pay for this new role by cutting spending on flood clear up.’
Climate change could lead to more frequent occurrences of extreme weather, such as flooding, in coming years, Bettison added.
‘Town halls are ready to take the lead on improving flood risk management but it should be clear that they will have the funding they need to properly protect people’s homes,’ he said.
27 July 2009
Local authorities have warned the government that they do not have the cash to take on new responsibilities for tackling flooding.
The government’s draft Floods and Water Bill will give councils the lead role in managing flood risk, making sure drainage systems work and protecting people’s homes.
The Bill would put into law the recommendations of Sir Michael Pitt’s review, carried out after the devastating floods that hit Britain in the summer of 2007.
But the Local Government Association warned that councils do not have the money to carry out the role. It reacted angrily to suggestions that the work could be paid for from money ‘saved’ from the clear-up costs after flooding.
Paul Bettison, chair of the LGA’s environment board, said the government should ‘take another look at its calculations’. He argued: ‘When councils spend money clearing up after floods it comes from budgets for other services, so it is wrong to say that councils can pay for this new role by cutting spending on flood clear up.’
Climate change could lead to more frequent occurrences of extreme weather, such as flooding, in coming years, Bettison added.
‘Town halls are ready to take the lead on improving flood risk management but it should be clear that they will have the funding they need to properly protect people’s homes,’ he said.
