Councils' flood cost set at £237m

The clean-up operation after last summer's floods in Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire has cost local councils £237m, the BBC can reveal.

This included responding to the emergency, managing the aftermath and repairs to properties, businesses and infrastructure.

Hull City Council had the region's largest damage bill reaching £140m.

The councils said they had recovered costs from external grants but some would be met from their own funds.

On 25 June last year torrential rain caused severe flooding in Sheffield and in towns and villages around Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham.

The deluge also overwhelmed drains in Hull and towns in East Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

In Hull, nearly £14m has been received from external funding with additional government funding expected.

Sheffield's £22.5m cost

Hull City Council leader Carl Minns said the authority had covered its costs without impacting on council tax.

Costs incurred by East Yorkshire Council have mounted to £45m. In North Lincolnshire the bill has amounted to £3.5m and just under £0.5m in North East Lincolnshire.

Nearly half of Sheffield's £22.5m costs have been recovered from outside funding, including government funds and the Bellwin scheme - financial assistance from the government to deal with emergency situations.

The authority said it was confident there would be no impact on taxpayers.

A spokeswoman for Sheffield City Council said: "It is hoped that the June 2007 floods will have no direct impact on council tax for this and future years because costs will be covered either by government support, insurance or internal reserves."

The mopping up operation in Doncaster has cost the council £14m but the authority said costs were still rising.

'Financial enormity'

About £5.6m of the cost has been recovered from government grants, including £3.4m from the Bellwin scheme.

In Barnsley, the council has been left with a £7.5m bill.

The authority said it was currently in the process of applying for funds to recover costs but the financial enormity of the clear-up could affect council tax rates.

A spokesman for Barnsley council said: "Given that the council has finite resource availability, any costs incurred in dealing with such emergency situations inevitably have an impact on future budgeting and medium term financial planning.

"It is however, impossible to predict the precise consequences other than to say some re-prioritisation will take place."

Rotherham had the lowest costs in South Yorkshire with the authority picking up a £4.2m damage bill.