1,500 flood-hit families to receive help with council tax bills

Floods Recovery Minister John Healey today announced that 25 councils helping over 1,500 flood-hit families pay their council tax bills will share over £1.2 million Government funding.

While many of these families affected by last summer's floods are now back home, this step - in recognition of special circumstances - will help councils giving council tax discounts so families do not face bills for homes they could not live in.

As reported to the Communities and Local Government Select Committee latest estimates show the number of families still out of their homes has more than halved since the end of June, falling to around 1,100. Initially 48,000 homes were affected by the flood water. Despite the much wider scale flooding last summer, progress compares well with the 2005 floods in Carlisle where one in ten displaced households were still not back after 18 months.

Homes that were unoccupied and in need of major repair were exempt from council tax after the floods - but these exemptions are only allowed for a year. That is why in June Mr Healey wrote to councils reminding them they also have the power to give discretionary discounts of up to 100 per cent and urged them to do so. Given the other burdens on these councils, he promised that Government would cover the cost for this so other local council tax payers are not unfairly affected.

This new money brings total Government support for areas affected by last summer's floods to over £134million. Today's payments include:

• Hull City Council will receive over £445,000 to help over 500 families
• Tewkesbury Borough Council will receive £233,000 to help around 130 families
• West Berkshire Council will receive over £110,000 to help over 80 families
• East Riding Council will receive almost £120,000 to help over 300 families
• Wychavon District Council will receive almost £50,000 to help almost 120 families

John Healey also outlined the ongoing support being offered to communities in the North East affected by September's floods. Residents in all 906 affected homes in Morpeth and 58 in Rothbury have been contacted by the local authority and offered help and support. Government is working closely with the local councils on their applications for financial support through the Bellwin scheme.

Community groups have set up a drop-in centre for local people to use providing internet and phone facilities, while local charities have been distributing donations of furniture and household items. The Regional Development Agency One North East has set up a support fund for local businesses. So far 37 applications have been received - 19 of which have to date been paid totalling £37,266.

While on a visit to Hull to meet a family affected by last summer's floods John Healey said :

"For most people last summer's floods are a distant memory. But I know many families and communities still feel the effects on a daily basis. That's why I have taken special steps, in recognition of these special circumstances, to help councils who have undertaken to ensure families don't pay council tax for homes they cannot live in.

"It has taken time but life is getting back to normal for communities. Latest estimates show that that over half of those who were out of their homes at the end of June are now back. I am determined this progress continues. That's why I continue to work with the insurance industry and local agencies to support efforts to get communities back to normal and families back home.

"I also remain in close touch with agencies helping those communities hit by the floods in September. Recovery work is progressing well with local agencies and charities actively providing support to households and businesses. And Government is working closely with the local councils on their applications for financial support through the Bellwin scheme."

Notes

The money will be paid to local authorities who are giving discretionary council tax discounts to flood-hit households. Details of the payments to individual local authorities are set out below. In many cases these families will now be back home and council tax discounts will cover periods over the last month between the council tax exemption ending and the family returning home.

As of 24 October we estimate approximately 1,100 households were still  displaced, about 1 in 20 of the original total. This estimate is based on an  extrapolation from returns from authorities covering about 80 per cent of affected  households (set out below) and excludes those displaced for the first time or  displaced again in flooding after the floods of last summer (mainly in Hull).

The pace at which households are returning home has been quickening. About 50 per cent of displaced households were still out last Christmas. Between June and the beginning of September the number of displaced households fell  by about 30 per cent and since September we estimate it has fallen by around 36 per cent again. Figures for those out at the beginning of September are available at:

• Displaced households at 1 September 2008
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