LGA Lib Dems: Joint Letter on EU Solidarity Funding for Flood Areas

A joint letter is below from Lib Dem LGA Vice President Catherine Bearder and others echoing Leader of the LGA Liberal Democrat group Gerald Vernon-Jackson’s call for LGA support for a government bid to the EU Solidarity fund to help support those communities affected by the recent floods:

Dear Lord Porter,

As LGA Vice-Presidents, we are writing to urge the LGA to join the campaign to persuade the UK government to apply for a grant from the EU’s Solidarity Fund (EUSF) following the devastating flooding of December 2015.

We have spoken to European Commission officials who have confirmed that the UK would be eligible for a substantial grant. If current estimates of £5 billion damage are correct, the EU grant could be worth upwards of £125m. This funding could be used by local authorities to pay for the rebuilding of vital infrastructure, clean-up operations and providing temporary accommodation. 10% of this could be made available as an advance payment within four to six weeks, whereas the rest would be available within 6-8 months and could be used retroactively.

In order to benefit from the fund, the government must apply within twelve weeks of when the disaster first hit. This means that time is of the essence. We understand the government is open to applying, but believe there is some reluctance to do so for political reasons. One concern is that a grant from the EUSF would affect the UK’s rebate from the EU budget. But overall the UK Treasury would remain a net beneficiary, with a gain of around one-third of the total grant. This means local authorities would still receive millions of pounds of additional funding that would not otherwise be available. The EUSF has also been significantly simplified since 2014, meaning that the process of applying is far less burdensome than it used to be.

Applying for a grant from the EUSF could provide a vital lifeline for local councils struggling to cope with the impact of the floods. At a time when council budgets are being increasingly squeezed, it is doubly important that the government ensures local authorities can benefit from this additional source of funding. Pressure from the LGA would help persuade the government that this is the right thing to do. We therefore hope you will support us in this important campaign.

Yours sincerely,

Catherine Bearder MEP