Vow to keep funding pressure up

South Holland District Council is still waiting for the money it was promised from central government for drainage boards.
The authority’s new deputy leader Paul Redgate, head of the national group set up to lobby on matters relating to drainage funds, said he will continue to push for it and a long term solution.
Responding to a question from Coun Chris Brewis at a meeting of the district council last week, Coun Redgate said: “As it stands at the moment we’re waiting for the final determination split of the £3m given in January.
“We have written to the government once again to chase it up once again with regards to the long term funding solution.
“It’s very clear that civil servants are dragging their heals on this.
“I’ve made it my mission to make sure they keep up the pace we intend.”
Coun Redgate said that there were now 31 local authorities that had become members of the group being led by South Holland District Council to provide more recompense for those that have to give parts of their council tax to drainage board.
“We are seeing new members largely because some of the authorities with very small precepts around the drainage boards are now seeing a significant increase.
“The latest to join us, Great Yarmouth, had a 500 per cent increase in their precept to drainage boards this year.
“That gives you an indication of the size and scale of what’s going on.
“We’re pressing forward and meeting at Portcullis House on June 5 with other authorities.
“I want us to be a nuisance. I want them to think ‘oh not him again’.
“At that point we know we’re making a difference.
“I want to be getting the pound notes.
“Will the government fully fund this completely? If they do we’re talking about funding across all authorities of £50m, which by today’s comparisons isn’t a large sum of money.
“I see this being a shared approach.
“I’m hopeful given we’ve got a general election that this isn’t kicked down the road by the government until November when a new government could come in and we have to redress some of these things.
“I want this matter dealt with before parliament’s summer recess or before the election.”