Floods Recovery Minister John Healey has announced that 25 councils helping over 1,500 flood-hit families pay their council tax bills will share over £1.2 million Government funding.

While many of these families affected by last summer's floods are now back home, this step will help councils giving council tax discounts so families do not face bills for homes they could not live in.

As reported to the Communities and Local Government Select Committee latest estimates show the number of families still out of their homes has more than halved since the end of June, falling to around 1,100. Initially 48,000 homes were affected by the flood water.

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Despite the much wider scale flooding last summer, progress compares well with the 2005 floods in Carlisle where one in ten displaced households were still not back after 18 months.

Homes that were unoccupied and in need of major repair were exempt from council tax after the floods - but these exemptions are only allowed for a year.

That is why in June Mr Healey wrote to councils reminding them they also have the power to give discretionary discounts of up to 100% and urged them to do so. Given the other burdens on these councils, he promised that Government would cover the cost for this so other local council tax payers are not unfairly affected.

Mr Healey also outlined the ongoing support being offered to communities in the North East affected by September's floods.

Residents in all 906 affected homes in Morpeth and 58 in Rothbury have been contacted by the local authority and offered help and support.

(CD)