Call for assurances over flood cash
Hull City Council leader Carl Minns today called for assurances from the Government that increased flood defence funding promised in the wake of the 2007 deluge is not in doubt.
Councillor Minns has written to Environment Secretary Hilary Benn to "seek assurance the Government will not go back on its word" to deliver an extra £200m to be spent on flood defences.
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Councillor Carl Minns
Following the devastating floods in Hull and other parts of the country in 2007, Mr Benn pledged an extra £200m to improve flood risk management.
He said spending on flood risk management and defences would rise from £600m in 2007-08 to £800m in 2010-11.
But earlier this week, Chris Smith, chairman of the Environment Agency, claimed the increased budget of £800m by 2010-11 was "far from a guaranteed figure" in the face of the squeeze on public spending.
And he issued a plea to councillors to lobby their party leaders to ensure extra cash for flood defences remained a priority.
Now Cllr Minns has written to Mr Benn to take the Government to task on the issue. In his letter to the minister, he said: "I am greatly concerned to read the reported remarks of the chairman of the Environment Agency that the £800m previously pledged by your Government, to improve flood risk management, is not a guaranteed figure.
"I am sure I do not need to remind you it was pledged after the severe flooding in June 2007 and is vitally needed in communities across the country, including here in Hull.
"I am writing to seek your assurance the Government will not go back on its word and the promised extra £200m will be delivered by the Government.
"I am sure you will appreciate the thousands of people affected by flooding will be extremely concerned when they read the comments of the agency chairman."
The extra funding has not yet been earmarked for specific projects by the council.
Cllr Minns told the Mail: "To go back on their word now would be a betrayal not only of communities who have suffered, but the future priorities in this area."
A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "The Government committed to invest more than £2.15bn up to 2011 and that commitment still stands.
"And with possible lower construction prices, this money could deliver even greater benefits than originally planned."
11 Comments
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by Honest David, Car Salesman Hull
Monday, March 30 2009, 7:00AM
“I bumped into Cllr Minns at the weekend and have some bad news for you he has not even taken part in any party training to be an MP and has no ambitions in that direction. He has been licenced by the party in the past for no hope seats where he couldn't win. So bad luck Mike it appears he has dedicated his life to saving Hull. At the rate they are going it will be several generations before anyone else will take over, if all they can offer when the caravan industry collapses etc is free school meals for all primary school children and Bankers massive payoffs.”
by GrrGRr, hull
Saturday, March 28 2009, 11:33PM
“Athornintheside"
I take it youve got a dual core pc..?
youve just repeated your post 4 times...Your pc must have some LAG..?”
by Athornintheside, Hull and Humber
Saturday, March 28 2009, 5:50PM
“I have just spent 50 minutes researching the councils payments received for flooding and as reported in this paper ERCC received £7million, Hull received just £665 thousand so he hasn't used the money for change management it did not exist at all and thats because as was said at the time they where the wrong kind of floods in Hull to warrant compensation. I remember that as you all should.”
by Athornintheside, Hull and Humber
Saturday, March 28 2009, 5:50PM
“I have just spent 50 minutes researching the councils payments received for flooding and as reported in this paper ERCC received £7million, Hull received just £665 thousand so he hasn't used the money for change management it did not exist at all and thats because as was said at the time they where the wrong kind of floods in Hull to warrant compensation. I remember that as you all should.”
by Athornintheside, Hull and Humber
Saturday, March 28 2009, 5:50PM
“I have just spent 50 minutes researching the councils payments received for flooding and as reported in this paper ERCC received £7million, Hull received just £665 thousand so he hasn't used the money for change management it did not exist at all and thats because as was said at the time they where the wrong kind of floods in Hull to warrant compensation. I remember that as you all should.”
by Athornintheside, Hull and Humber
Saturday, March 28 2009, 5:50PM
“I have just spent 50 minutes researching the councils payments received for flooding and as reported in this paper ERCC received £7million, Hull received just £665 thousand so he hasn't used the money for change management it did not exist at all and thats because as was said at the time they where the wrong kind of floods in Hull to warrant compensation. I remember that as you all should.”
by Allen, Hull
Saturday, March 28 2009, 9:57AM
“Yes Mark the District Auditor is a member of the Governments Audit Commission, his name is Micheal Newby, anyone got a phone number or address for Mike so he can make his allegation.”
by Mark, Hull
Saturday, March 28 2009, 9:22AM
“If what you say is true Mike then he is misapropriateing Council funds and I am fairly sure that is illegal and very unlikely to happen as the council have a section 151 officer to make sure all the money is spent legally and the government appoint a District Auditor to inspect the accounts of every council every year. But if you believe that Carl Minns can get around that put your allegation to the District Auditor in Beverley. I think at as he is Government paid and independant and this government do not like Lib/ Dems you will be on a winner.”
by Name *, Location *
Saturday, March 28 2009, 9:12AM
“Good picture - downing another publicly funded hobnob eh!”
by Danny, Newland Ave
Saturday, March 28 2009, 9:05AM
“Carl minns is a creep in my opinion. Don't like him one bit. The problem is the alternatives are no better! We're screwed!!!! I'm leaving Hull in two weeks and i'm not planning on looking back!”