Still waiting for South Holland’s share of £3m drainage cash — amid warnings of ‘tough decisions’ to come on services

Council leaders are still waiting to receive a share of £3 million to help keep the area dry - months on after it was promised by the previous government.

South Holland District Council (SHDC) is one of the authorities that has been fighting to get a fairer funding solution for Internal Drainage Boards - and is warning that ‘tough decisions’ on services will need to be made if the money is not forthcoming.

High energy costs, wetter weather conditions along with wage rises are behind an average 28% increase in costs for IDBs since 2022-23, according to PA.

SHDC increased its share of the council tax earlier this year and leader Coun Nick Worth warned that that the £268,000 extra income would be ‘wiped out’ by the money needed by the internal drainage boards — with ratepayers bearing the burden to spiralling costs.

In January, former Levelling Up Minister Michael Gove announced £3 million to support councils ‘experiencing the biggest pressures’ and South Holland and the Deepings MP Sir John Hayes had been assured that this area would be receiving a share of the cash.

But the money had not appeared prior to the General Election in May when the Tories lost power to Labour — and the council is hoping to work with the new administration to make sure the promise is not broken.

Coun Paul Redgate, who is chairing a special interest group to help raise awareness of the challenges faced by authorities with IDBs, said: “In January, the previous Government announced £3 million of support to the most affected councils, which we are very grateful for, but we are yet to find out how that will be allocated.

“If it is shared between more authorities, those that are most affected are going to receive even less. It also does not cover the uplift of £11m from the financial pressures of the last two years.

“A long-term funding solution is what is urgently needed as councils will have no choice but to make some very tough decisions on the services they can afford.”

IDBs are small public bodies and the district council collects the levy on their behalf.

South Holland is one of the three local authorities facing the largest increases in costs with a £600,000 increase in cost this year alone.

MP Sir John Hayes said he was assured in a meeting with the previous minister Simon Hall that South Holland will be receiving a share of the promised £3million but has now promised to make inquiries as to what happened.

Sir John said: “What I am going to find out is did he (Hall - who is still an MP) instruct the civil servants to make the payment and if not why or is that decision still in department and never been acted upon.”

He has also said he would approach the current minister.

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