South Holland District Council has asked for more money from central government to pay internal drainage boards (IDB) in the face of cost-cutting to fund the bill.
It’s been announced that £3m will be given by the government to be shared by local authorities that contribute to the boards, the same as was granted last year.
But this year a specialist interest group of 40 local authorities being led by SHDC has gone back and said it wants £11m.
The authority says costs for IDBs are rising by around £250,000, and it would need to provide them £1m in the next year, which portfolio holder for finance Paul Redgate (pictured) says it can’t afford.
He’s heading the specialist support group which is pushing for a long term solution, particularly for a change so that IDBs can set their own share of the council tax, rather than it come out of the district council’s share.”
He told a meeting of SHDC last week that an £11m request was ‘more real’ after the authority received around £330,000 in the last payment initially intended to be a one off.
“That would give us a top up and a bit of breathing space,” he said. “The IDBs do an incredible job and let’s not underestimate the challenges they’re facing now.
“I think there’s no doubt it’s difficult with the level of rain fall we are seeing, and the challenges the IDBs have of maintaining our drains with the resources they have without breaking their budgets.
“They understand the pressure that whatever decision they make, we pass on to the tax payer and that resource is limited.
“The next two years for us will be a challenge. They will be hard.
“I’m hopeful there will be a resolution, but less so on it being quick.
“Given the positive statements coming out I hope there’s an increase; even doubling the £3m to £6m will make a difference.
“Money talks and this is a burden our local tax payers can no longer afford to pay and it won’t be long before, not necessarily us, but other authorities face serious problems.”
When asked by Coun Thomas Sneath what measures were in place if a long term solution could not be found, Coun Redgate responded: “As an authority it’s always important we have a balanced budget and we recognise there is a gap.
“We’d need to look at what we’re doing as an authority and look at savings to bridge that gap.
“The challenge then is to deliver them.
“It’s important IDBs don’t cut what they do and also that they are value for money.
“It’s a symbiotic relationship because they come to us, we look at how much they need, we look at our council tax and we look at how much we can contribute from that.
“Efficiencies are the only way we can do that. What we’re going to get from the government helps, but what we’d have to do is look at the bigger picture.”
