Stockport Labour intend to lead by example, by proposing to create £1.5M flood fund to deal with infrastructure issues following the flooding that has occurred in Stockport.

 

The fund created from a combination of a reimbursement from the renegotiation of the GM Waste contract and more than expected Council Tax and Business Rate collection, will be used to repair, maintain and improve the Council’s highways and infrastructure damaged in the flooding.  This is one-off funding that can only be used for capital schemes.

 

In July last year, as previously in 2016, many parts of the country suffered unprecedented levels of flooding from torrential rainfall, most notably seen by the near collapse of the Toddbrook reservoir in Derbyshire and the extensive flooding in Yorkshire. Stockport was unfortunately one of those areas affected.

As in 2016, Stockport’s Labour- led administration responded swiftly and set up a Council Tax relief scheme to assist residents. However, many homes and business without insurance were left struggling, infrastructure was damaged and the need for regional partners to work more collaborative was pressed home.

The Labour Leader of the Council, Cllr Elise Wilson wrote several times to the government seeking access to existing funding streams that were made available to other parts of the country, in order to assist residents and businesses struggling within Stockport. At the same time Cllr Wilson also called for a Flooding Summit as a way of bringing regional agencies together.  To date there has not been a positive response.

Following the 2016 floods much work, identified by the first Consultants Report, has been completed but there is more to do.  There is now a further report being carried out, which the Council is required to do following any incidents of flooding, and this Flood Fund will provide the resources to deal with the infrastructure issues identified.

 

Cllr Sheila Bailey, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport, commented:

“Flooding is disastrous and heartbreaking for those affected and, as a Council, we will do as much as we can to offer help and advice.  A Council Tax freeze was put in place in 2016 and last year for residents affected.  Numerous residents’ meetings have taken place and further drop-in sessions will take place over the next few weeks so that the Consultants can hear directly from those affected.  But to find long term solutions there has to be co-operation between the Government, local Councils and other agencies involved such as United Utilities and the Environment Agency”.

 

Cllr Elise Wilson, Leader of the Council, added:

“This Labour administration works incredibly hard to make Stockport a better and safer place to live so I am disappointed with the response so far from government. I hope they reflect on last year’s events and those of 2016 and work with us, along with partner agencies, to better protect our residents from these type of events in the future. The people of Stockport affected by the floods deserve better.”

 

The Council’s review into flooding is due to be completed by March.

 

ENDS