Speeches

Biography information for Tobias Ellwood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Tobias Ellwood on Communities and Local Government.

1

Brandon Lewis

This Government has provided a range of financial support schemes to help individuals, businesses, farmers and local authorities return to normality after the winter’s severe weather: these include Council Tax Relief, Business Rate Relief, the Business Support Scheme, and Repair and Renew Grants.

The Government deals with local authorities who administer support schemes on its behalf. It does not deal directly with residents and does not therefore hold information at constituency level in terms of requests for financial support that have been granted: that is a matter for the local authorities concerned. I can say, however, that Bournemouth Borough Council has received some £350,000 to repair local roads damaged by severe weather, a further £268,000 from the Department for Transport’s Potholes Fund and my Department is aware that as at 25 June, the Council has received 70 claims for Council Tax Relief totalling some £14,000, one claim for Business Rate Relief and three applications from residents for Repair and Renew Grant to help build better flood protection into their homes. The Government retrospectively reimburses councils for the costs incurred from its flood recovery schemes.