Flood prevention cost concerns

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7733622.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Councils have expressed concern that they will not have enough cash to meet the costs of new laws to tackle the problem of flooding in Scotland.

Scottish ministers have brought forward a bill to bring in EU regulations requiring flood risk management plans to be put in place.

But nine local authorities have come forward to appeal to the government to meet the costs.

Ministers said funding was included in the councils' financial settlement.

The Flood Risk Management Bill takes in new European regulations, which have set deadlines on the production of flood hazard maps and risk management plans running up to the end of 2015.

There continues to be concerns that West Lothian will lose funding to more densely populated areas West Lothian Council

The legislation will cost councils up to £44.9m to implement their part of the bill, plus annual running costs of up to £9.5m after that.

But several local authorities - including East Lothian, Renfrewshire, Scottish Borders and the Western Isles - have said their budgets have been fully committed elsewhere, in submissions to the Scottish Parliament's Finance Committee.

In addition, Angus Council raised concern that local authorities' responsibility to come up with their own flood management plans could be constrained, because the Scottish Environment Protection Agency had overall responsibility.

Moray Council also said there was "no scope" to meet the extra costs, while Orkney Islands Council warned it was unlikely to be able to bear the increased burden "without affecting other service provision."

West Lothian Council, which also appealed for extra Scottish Government funding, added: "There continues to be concerns that West Lothian will lose funding to more densely populated areas despite there being a significant risk of flooding in its disparate less-populated communities and having to commit exactly the same resources."

The Scottish Government said the final cost of the bill - which is being scrutinised by the Finance Committee - would depend on the results of the flood risk assessments, which have to be completed by 2011.

Ministers added that the £34.9bn local government funding package for 2008-11 would see an increase of 13% over the three years, and would not change as a result of the flooding legislation.

However, the government has agreed to discuss how any extra financial burdens might be paid for.