Positive talks on drainage issue

The leader of South Holland District Council says he feels more confident about his calls for fairer funding for the area when it comes to drainage boards.

Lord Gary Porter said he, along with the two other leaders of the South and East Lincolnshire Local Partnership, senior council officers plus three local MPs, had met with parliamentary under secretary of state in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Lee Rowley to discuss the issue.

Currently around 50 per cent of the district council’s share of the council tax residents pay goes to the drainage boards that serve the area.

The figures are yet to be revealed for this year, but South Holland District Council’s head of finance has said that “well over £3m” will go towards the boards as they’re requesting between 12 and 15 per cent increases to cover rising costs.

The area is one of just 17 councils in the UK that have drainage boards.

And Lord Porter says as these areas look after the rainfall for large parts of the rest of the country, the 17 areas should be compensated or the drainage boards be given status to set their own council tax precepts so it doesn’t ask for the district council’s funds.

At last week’s meeting of South Holland District Council, Lord Porter was asked about progress with government officials.

“I can’t say we’ve cut through and got an agreement, but I was pleasantly surprised about ministers’ genuine interest in the subject and concern of the state of council finances,” he told councillors. “It was made quite clear that none of us are proposing the drainage boards don’t get the money.

“We’re always talking about the importance of the boards, not just for the people in this part of the world, but all the people in the country who would be at flood risk nationally if we didn’t allow the water through our areas.

“While I can’t tell you definitely what’s on the slate, I left the meeting feeling more confident that the conversation’s getting through to national government and they do understand the situation.

“That’s particularly as this minister lives in an area that sends us their rain to process so it’s quite important.”