Audit Commission: flood funding poorly targeted and inconsistent

The Audit Commission, a public spending watchdog, has said that although financial aid for the flooding this summer came quickly, it was poorly targeted, inconsistent, and not good value for money.

The watchdog said that the proportion of the £250m cost of the floods met by local authorites ranged from 3% to 73%.

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 flooding, will bounce back quickly."

The Department for Communities and Local Government has made £17m available in flood recovery grants since the summer. It responded to the report by arguing that a one-size fits all approach would have been inappropriate.

Floods Recovery Minister John Healy said: "Communities wanted quick and comprehensive support, not a response set out in a rule book six inches thick."

Roads that have been affected by the floods are expected to cost £73m, of which the Department of Transport has provided the sum of £50m. Education authorities have received more than £13m from the Department of Schools.