Council tax relief for West flood victims
Local Government Minister John Healey announced the cash, which will help families who have now returned to their homes, as well as some living in temporary accommodation.
He gave the money to eight West councils affected by the floods of summer 2007, with sums including £233,000 for Tewkesbury to help 129 families, £21,722 to the Cotswolds for 36 households, and £2,611 to Cheltenham for eight families.
In all 240 West families will receive the help with their council tax bills, among a total of 1,500 nationwide sharing over £1.2 million.
He said the cash would be used to give council tax discounts so that people do not face bills for homes they could not live in.
"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," he said.
"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 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."
Homes that were unoccupied and in need of major repair were exempt from council tax after the floods, but that lasted only for a year, so Mr Healey has written to councils reminding them they have powers to give discretionary discounts of up to 100 per cent, and he urged them to do so.
Given the other burdens on these councils, he promised the Government would cover the cost for this so other local council tax payers are not unfairly affected.
The cash announced yesterday is going to councils giving discretionary council tax discounts to flood-hit households, in many cases covering the time over the last month between the exemption ending and the family returning home.
There were initially 48,000 homes affected by flooding around England, and the number of families still unable to go back homes is now believed to have dropped to around 1,100.
At the start of September there were 257 West families whose homes were still not fit to live in, but the number is now thought to be under 100, including 41 in Cotswold district, and 40 in Tewkesbury.
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