Isle of Wight Council frustrated over Government's changes to flood relief eligibility
Around 120 homes were hit by recent flooding, after storms Babet and Ciaran
Last updated 10th Nov 2023
A change in wording about who is eligible for flood relief cash from the government has led to the Isle of Wight Council’s chief executive’s ‘extreme frustration’.
Around 120 homes on the Isle of Wight were hit by recent flooding, after storms Babet and Ciaran.
On Tuesday, Wendy Perera highlighted a lack of clarity over the eligibility criteria for financial support – and said it is unclear whether the Island will get any money.
The government announced support measures before last month’s flash floods, which included immediate help of up to £500 cash for flooded householders, and up to £5,000 to help make homes and businesses more resilient to future flooding.
The measures also included 100 per cent council tax and business rates relief for at least three months, for affected homes and businesses and £2,500 for small to medium firms, to help them get back to business as usual.
When the funding was first announced, all local authorities could apply. The terms have now changed to read the money will be for ‘eligible’ councils, said Ms Perera.
She told members of the Isle of Wight Council’s corporate scrutiny committee that, 12 days on, no criteria has been sent out to explain who will be able to apply.
The chief executive said the question has been asked daily, alongside providing data on how many homes had been affected, and the times they were flooded.
Mrs Perera said: “As yet, we have not received any confirmation we will receive flood recovery money, but it is a priority for this council.
“Through myself, the leader (Cllr Phil Jordan) and the MP (Bob Seely) we will keep pushing to ensure we get an allocation.”
Committee members have asked bosses from Southern Water, the Environment Agency and Island Roads to attend a meeting in the new year, to provide answers on what happened.
The committee heard a statutory report is being written, but Cllr Joe Robertson said it took nine months for previous reports about flooding in Binstead and Bembridge to be completed, adding “nine months of silence from the companies would not be acceptable to the committee or the public”.