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www.calderdale.gov.uk Our Ref Your Ref Please Contact: Telephone Email: Date: TS Leaders Office Councillor Tim Swift 01422 392754 Councillor.TSwift@calderdale.gov.uk 18th February 2014 Town Hall Halifax HX1 1UJ

Rt Hon David Cameron MP The Prime Ministers Office 10 Downing Street London SW1A 2AA

Dear Mr Cameron Responding to the Floods You may recall that in July 2012 you visited Calderdale in the aftermath of the devastating flash flood which affected almost 900 properties. Whilst you met with residents and businesses and listened to their concerns sympathetically, in your letter to our then Chief Executive, Gordon Mitchell (12 July 2012), you indicated that you were not going to respond to any of the requests we made for financial assistance. This included a request to lower the threshold for the Bellwin formula and extend the scope of it; and also for financial support for homes and businesses affected. There is no mileage in comparing one persons misery with another. I understand that the scale and scope of the current flooding in the South and South West has led to huge media attention and public pressure, and I and my residents have every sympathy with those now struggling with the kind of issues that we experience in 2012 and 2013. None the less, we are deeply disappointed and let down that we did not receive the same scale of support that is now being offered elsewhere especially given the uneven distribution of reductions in Government spending which means that

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Calderdale has faced much larger cuts in our spending power than many councils in the South and South West. Over the past 18 months, we have largely got on with the job. We appreciate the assistance we have received from the Environment Agency, and through a DEFRA grant focused on helping to build community resilience. We have put in place a long term plan, recognising the need not simply for an immediate response but for a continuing strategy, and we would be happy to share our experience with other authorities and areas affected. However, we do feel a sense of injustice that financial support is now being offered to businesses and residents in other areas which was not made available to people in the Calder Valley. If there is to be government assistance to people and communities affected by flooding, then surely this should be on a consistent and understood basis? I am therefore writing to request that even at this late stage, you consider extending the grant offer and changes to Bellwin which have now been announced and applying them retrospectively to areas such as Calderdale who were so badly affected in 2012. Yours sincerely

Councillor Tim Swift Leader, Calderdale MBC