Eric Pickles has taken control of the Government’s response to flooding, as further funding is allocated to the country’s emergency defences.
Number 10 has revealed the communities secretary will chair the Government’s COBR crisis response committee while environment secretary Owen Paterson takes a few days off following emergency surgery to repair a detached retina.
A Downing Street spokesperson said that in the absence of Paterson, Pickles would ‘be in charge’ of the Government’s response to the floods. However they added that prime minister David Cameron would ‘remain very closely involved’.
Cameron has also announced a further £100m of funding to repair and maintain flood defences in affected areas.
The prime minister emphasised there would be ‘no restrictions on help’ for communities affected by continuing bad weather.
Despite on-going efforts by the Environment Agency to pump three million tonnes of water a day off the Somerset Levels, the Government has conceded that ‘no amount of pumping’ will solve the current high water levels.
An enhancement of the Bellwin Scheme by the Department for Communities and Local Government could also see councils receiving more money to cover costs incurred by to their emergency responses.
Amendments to the scheme, which was activated in December, will extend the eligible spending period under which councils can claim back costs until the end of March, while allowing upper tier authorities in charge of fire services to claim back costs.
Communities minister, Brandon Lewis, said: ‘We are determined to support those councils on the front line working hard to protect their communities and ensure local authorities have the confidence to provide the help needed in the knowledge that funds are available to meet costs.’
