To ensure swift implementation of flood recovery schemes so that those impacted by Storm Henk can receive some financial support.

The Flood Recovery Framework (FRF) was triggered on 6 January 2024 in response to the severe flooding events that occurred as a result of Storm Henk. The FRF Operational Guidance is attached to this report at Appendix 1

Eligible areas are those upper and lower tier authority areas reporting over 50 internally flooded properties as a direct result of Storm Henk (between the dates of 2 January 2024 and 12 January 2024).

Storm Henk is known to have caused flooding events in Herefordshire which have affected households and businesses. At the time of writing 64 properties in the county have been identified as having flooded internally.

As part of the FRF, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has issued a MoU to be completed by local authorities which covers three of the flood schemes to be administered by DLUHC (see Appendix 2):

• Community Recovery Grant: authorities will receive funding equivalent to £500 per household where as a result of Storm Henk, flood water entered the internal habitable areas of someone’s property; or did not enter internal habitable areas but their property was unliveable for more than 48 hours;
• Council Tax Discount: authorities will be reimbursed for the cost of a 100% council tax discount for a minimum of three months if flood water entered the internal habitable areas of someone’s property; or did not enter internal habitable areas but their property was unliveable for more than 48 hours. Authorities will also be reimbursed for the cost of a 100% council tax discount on temporary accommodation for any household unable to return to their home; and
• Business Rates Relief: authorities will be reimbursed for the cost of providing businesses 100% relief from business rates for a minimum of three months if flood water entered the property, or the flooding seriously impacted upon the businesses’ ability to trade from the property. The relief provided will be subject to the UK subsidy control regime and will only be available to properties with a rateable value less than £10m.

The Department for Business & Trade (DBT) has issued a MoU to be completed by local authorities which covers the flood scheme to be administered by DBT (see Appendix 3):

• Business Recovery Grant: authorities will receive funding equivalent to £2,500 per eligible business premises that has either been directly significantly impacted or indirectly significantly impacted by the weather event over a period of time, to help support recovery in the immediate aftermath of Storm Henk.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has issued a MoU to be completed by local authorities which covers the flood scheme to be administered by Defra (see Appendix 4):

• Property Flood Resilience Scheme: authorities will be reimbursed for the cost of offering householders and businesses up to £5,000 per property to fund measures which improve a property’s resilience over and above repairs that would normally be covered by insurance.

Herefordshire Council will therefore invite and determine grants on behalf of DLUHC, DBT and Defra in accordance with published guidance issued January 2024.