LAST week, the Scottish Government announced better protection from flooding with the award of almost £40 million.

Local authorities were invited to apply for funding and to bring forward bids which were assessed by a joint COSLA/Scottish Government panel. COSLA is the umbrella body representing local authorities.

As Inverclyde Council’s leader indicated, in the Tele on 17 January, a note of caution had to be attached to Inverclyde’s bid as it was different to the criteria outlined. Since then, we have been made aware, from Scottish Government officials, that Inverclyde Council’s application was for an amalgamation of clearance and repair works, rather than a single large flood protection scheme requiring funding.

I’ve also received a response from the Minister for Environment, indicating an Inverclyde Council employee has been a member of the committee which assesses applications for funding of flood protection schemes.

While they were excused from the round of funding which Inverclyde Council bid for, they would, in most likelihood, have been aware of the criteria for applications.

Therefore, questions must be asked as to why Inverclyde Council did not adhere to the criteria which was quite clearly outlined beforehand. Secondly, flooding has been a huge problem in Inverclyde for more than the last 40 years, indeed some reports suggest even 100 years.

I have written to the Scottish Government to ask for further clarification on the matter. I hope the local authority will, in future, take a far more sensible approach of applying for funding with bids which match laid out criteria.