A cabinet minister says it will find a long term plan for the future of funding drainage boards, but only as part of the wider reform of local government.
Minister of State Jim McMahon was speaking in the House of Commons after being asked about the issue by South Holland and the Deeping MP Sir John Hayes.
South Holland District Council says it faces a £1m shortfall in the next four years due to the rising costs of independent drainage boards which the authority has to fund through its share of council tax.
Sir John said: “There is a real problem here, because drainage is not adequately funded through the system; it does require an extra grant, in my judgment, to those local authorities.
“Will he look at this issue, and will he meet me and others to discuss it further, should that be helpful?”
District councillor Paul Redgate has led a special interest group of around 40 councils calling for a change to the way drainage boards are funded.
Labour politician Mr McMahon referenced meeting that group saying: “The disproportionate burden that drainage places on small district councils is quite a challenge.
“We have increased the levy grant by £2 million to £5 million, so we are beginning to get there. However, I agree with the right honourable gentleman entirely: we do need a long-term solution to that.
“He has my commitment that we will find a way through that as we begin the wider reforms later on. this plan will be achieved first and foremost through growth, which will be driven by empowered local leaders working in partnership with local communities and local businesses.
“Councils of all political stripes are feeling the strain, and it will be a long, hard road to get them back to full fitness.
“This final settlement marks an important milestone on that journey, as we finally turn the page on chaos, austerity and 14 long years of managed decline.
“The settlement addresses the financial crisis facing councils head on, moving away from bidding wars for wasteful competitive funding pots and towards core, stable multi-year financial settlements.”
l Sir John Hayes has also written to Minister of State for Policing, Dame Diana Johnson, calling for more funding for Lincolnshire.
“The formula arises from outdated data which is no longer relevant to the deliver of policing,” the letter states. “I would welcome an urgent response about what additional support might be available for Lincolnshire so that drastic measures affecting front line policing do not need to be taken.”
