Asked by: John Stanley (Conservative - Tonbridge and Malling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will list the government departments and public authorities to which borough councils for areas where there is no unitary authority can apply for funding towards (a) their own costs in dealing with flooding and (b) the cost of flood protection schemes in their area, stating in each case the name of the funding scheme and the government department or public authority to which the application should be made.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
(a) There are a number of schemes where borough councils can apply for funding towards their own costs in dealing with flooding and these are listed below.
The Bellwin Scheme of emergency financial assistance (funding to help Local Authorities in the emergency phase of the flooding to protect lives or property) – through the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Funding for repair of damages to roads (hit by weather damage) – through the Department for Transport
The business support scheme (hardship funding for SME businesses in areas affected by the floods) – through the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
(b) Borough councils can also apply for funding towards the cost of flood protection schemes from Flood Defence Grant in Aid through the Environment Agency. Second tier local authorities including Borough Councils can apply for capital grants towards flood and coastal erosion risk management projects. Where there are two tiers of local government, local authorities should work together to decide which authority is best placed to lead in different circumstances.
Asked by: John Stanley (Conservative - Tonbridge and Malling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on the continued exclusion of borough councils for areas where there is no unitary authority from the definition of risk management authorities in Section 6(13) of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
All local authorities are risk management authorities under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. No local authorities are excluded from the definition of a risk management authority in the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
A ‘borough council' will either be a unitary authority or a district council. As a unitary authority it will be a ‘lead local flood authority', which in turn makes it a ‘risk management authority' in its own right (the same applies to county councils). Where it is not a unitary authority it is a district council, whether known as borough council or city council, and so is also a risk management authority.
Asked by: John Stanley (Conservative - Tonbridge and Malling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will name the lead local flood authority or authorities for the area of the Tonbridge and Malling constituency.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
The Lead Local Flood Authority is Kent County Council. This is defined under section 6(7) of the Flood & Water Management Act 2010.
Asked by: John Stanley (Conservative - Tonbridge and Malling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward proposals to make borough councils for areas where there is no unitary authority eligible to apply for flood and coastal erosion risk management grant-in-aid.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
Borough Councils are already able to bring forward proposals working with the Environment Agency and/or the Lead Local Flood Authorities, should they wish to seek flood and coastal erosion risk management grant-in-aid.
Asked by: John Stanley (Conservative - Tonbridge and Malling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether parish councils and town councils are eligible to apply for flood and coastal erosion risk management grant-in-aid.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
Defra flood and coastal erosion risk management grant-in-aid is only available to a risk management authority, as defined by section 6(13) of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. If a parish council or town council wish to progress a flood management scheme they should contact the lead local flood authority for the area.