This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Storm relief cash for Orkney
04/08/2005
Financial assistance has been given to Orkney Islands Council to help meet the costs of dealing with the storms in January 2005.
The funding - under the Executive's Bellwin Scheme - will result in initial funding of £81,798 with any additional amount being paid at a later stage once a final audited claim has been received.
Deputy Minister for Finance and Parliamentary Business George Lyon said:
"I am pleased to be able to announce that we are providing nearly £82,000 to Orkney Islands Council under the Bellwin Scheme to cover the eligible costs incurred in the immediate aftermath of the storms that affected the Orkney Islands in January 2005.
"These costs were primarily for emergency works for the coastal defences for the protection of roads and to the roads' infrastructure."
The Bellwin Scheme exists to give special financial assistance to authorities who would otherwise be faced with an undue financial burden as a result of providing emergency relief and carrying out immediate work in a situation, such as the severe weather that occurred in January 2005, where there has been destruction or danger to life or property.
Where the criteria of the scheme are met, grant is payable to authorities at 85 per cent of the eligible costs incurred above a threshold set for each authority. The appropriate threshold for Orkney Islands Council in this case is £68,291.
Bellwin is intended to cover uninsurable costs. Authorities are expected to provide their own cover for insurable items, whether externally or through self-insurance.