Purpose

In 2017, the Government produced a Flood
Recovery Framework (FRF) which is a framework for use in a severe
weather event with significant wide area impacts. The triggering of
this framework is intended to provide local authorities with
central support to help their communities and businesses return to
normal. The Framework was updated in 2021 following impacts from
flooding events in 2019 and 2020.
The Government’s FRF was triggered on 25th October 2023 in
response to severe flooding events which occurred following Storm
Babet. On 3 November 2023, the Leader of the Council agreed to the
implementation of three flood schemes in the borough, specifically
the Community Grant Scheme, Council Tax Discounts and Business
Rates Relief, all schemes administered by the Department for
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
DEFRA have now issued guidance on the administration of the
Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant as a result of Storm Babet
(appendix 1). This scheme runs alongside the other DLUHC schemes
but is again administered locally by districts.
The purpose of this report is to seek approval to implement the
Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme – Storm Babet
2023 (PFRRS), and to delegate administration and decision making
under the scheme to the relevant Director in accordance with
guidance issued by the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs
(DEFRA).
The report also seeks delegation to Director level to sign the
memorandum of understanding with DEFRA in relation to the
PFRRS.

Decision

1)Approves implementation of the Property
Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme – Storm Babet
2)Delegates to the relevant Director, the authority to administer
and determine all applications for grants under the scheme in line
with DEFRA guidance at Appendix 1.
3)Delegates authority to Director level to complete the Memorandum
of Understanding issued by DEFRA to enable participation in the
Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme – Storm
Babet

Reasons for the decision

To implement the PFFRS in the borough as the
eligibility criteria, of over 50 properties flooded as a result of
Storm Babet across the LLFA is satisfied.

Alternative options considered

An alternative would be not to implement the
scheme locally, however this would be contrary to Government
expectation and recommendation and would not enable financial
support to those households and businesses impacted by Storm Babet.
Completion of the memorandum of understanding with DEFRA is
required to access the PFFRS.