Title

ENVIRONMENT

Emergency Bellwin scheme activated in response to flooding

Councils will be able to apply to be reimbursed for costs incurred as part of their response to the heavy rainfall that has hit in recent days.

Councils will be able to apply to be reimbursed for costs incurred as part of their response to the heavy rainfall that has hit in recent days.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government activated the Bellwin scheme, which provides financial assistance to help councils deal with the aftermath of emergencies.

Under the scheme, local authorities dealing with the flooding can apply to have 100% of the eligible costs they incur - above a threshold - reimbursed by the Government.

The money can be used to pay for items including rest centres, temporary accommodation and staff overtime.

Heavy rainfall resulted in 400 homes flooded in Doncaster and 1,200 properties were evacuated.

Five severe flood warnings, which means there is a significant risk to life, and 29 flood warnings remained in place today.

ENVIRONMENT

EXCLUSIVE: LGA cyber insurance talks 'peter out'

By Dan Peters | 10 February 2026

The Local Government Association (LGA) is not currently taking forward a proposal for a cyber attack insurance scheme, it has confirmed.

ENVIRONMENT

Councillors urge minimum pension age hike amid cost fears

By Martin Ford | 04 February 2026

Councillors are pushing for the minimum pension age to be increased by two years for more officers amid fears about costs from local government reorganisatio...

ENVIRONMENT

Political convenience is no justification for unconstitutional local election tinkering

By Colin Copus | 02 February 2026

The Government’s decision to ‘postpone or cancel’ local elections is ‘a travesty of constitutional propriety’ say emeritus professors Steve Leach and Colin C...

ENVIRONMENT

Going beyond resilience

By Liam Young | 15 January 2026

Liam Young looks at the true cost of today’s head roles, arguing that now is the time to establish what leadership now looks like, how it is supported and ho...

Popular articles by William Eichler