Title

Local government minister John Healey has confirmed that an announcement on the new unitaries will be made today (Wednesday). He insisted, in an interview to be published in The MJ this week, that the announcement must take place before Parliament rises for the recess this week. There is speculation that the final shortlist will propose up to eight new unitaries, mostly county-based, but Mr Healey declined to comment. Mr Healey, who is the flood recovery minister, also praised local authorities for their role in helping residents overwhelmed by the recent two bouts of heavy rainstorms. The minister, who attended another top-level emergency Cobra meeting in Downing Street this morning before visiting Gloucestershire said he had seen ‘local authorities at their best.' ‘They provided the kind of response communities needed as well as public assurance and leadership. It has been an outstanding example of local government leading the recovery effort,' her said. But he declined to commit to extra Government funding through revenue support grant for councils facing long-term rebuilding costs. Gloucestershire County Council chief executive Peter Bungard yesterday asked prime minister Gordon Brown whether funding for the flooding currently affecting the county could be done in a different 'style' to the Bellwin scheme, which could be 'hard to define'. Mr Healey also said that his department was assessing the costs of flood damage before deciding whether to apply for EU aid which kicks in if damages total over 3bn Euros. He added: ‘We have ten weeks from when the flood hit us so we still have time. If we have a basis for a claim then I want to see one put in.' But there was no change in attitudes to building homes in areas susceptible to flooding. ‘If anything it's drawn attention to the tough regime we've drawn up for any proposed development in these areas.'

Title

FINANCE

Unitaries announcement 'today'

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING