Government's flood aid was inconsistent

Government aid following the summer floods was inconsistent, according to a report by the Audit Commission.

Flooding killed 14 people in June and July, affected 8,600 households, and left 2,300 people in temporary accommodation. The total bill for damage repair currently stands at £3bn.

Staying Afloat Financing Emergencies assesses the impact on the finances of 18 of the worst affected local authorities.

Government aid, says the report, was 'poorly targeted and unlikely to provide good value for taxpayers' money'. Some councils were having to pay 3 per cent of the costs, while others had to pay 73 per cent, caused by variations in insurance cover and inconsistencies in central Government support.

Steve Bundred, Chief Executive of the Audit Commission said: 'This is a tale of two floods. There are some local authorities which, although badly hit by the flooding, will bounce back quickly. Others will be dealing with the effects of the flooding for some time to come.

'Our report clearly shows that the current government scheme to provide emergency assistance isn't enough to deal with catastrophic events and should be reviewed.'

Inadequate funding includes the Department for Transport setting aside £50 million to cover road damage, with £73 million expected to be claimed by the authorities.

The Audit Commission's report has concluded that Government aid for the summer floods was inconsistent.