The Government announced details of a new pilot for a service to make it possible for people to let different authorities know about a change in circumstances with just one visit or phone call.
The new cross-government service will include:
The aim of the new service is to notify all departments effected of a registered birth or death as a consequence of one report - either in person or by telephone.
The trials, taking place in parts of the North West and South East, will offer face-to-face and telephone service for people to allow them to notify central and local government only once of a birth or death. The information will then be shared with those services taking part in the trial.
There are plans to extend the service to cover "change of address". The pilots will also offer a deeper service based on the needs of those walking though the door. For example, return of Social Service equipment, or cancelling a passport.
Pilots will start in Tameside, Southwark, Rotherham and Wolverhampton, and will extend over the course of the next few weeks into Kent and Lancashire.
Floods Recovery Minister John Healey 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 - in recognition of special circumstances - aims to help councils giving Council Tax discounts, so families do not face bills for homes they could not live in.
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. 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. In June, the Minister wrote to councils, reminding them they also have the power to give discretionary discounts of up to 100% and urged them to do so. He promised that Government would cover the cost for this, so that other local council tax payers are not unfairly affected.
This new money brings total Government support for areas affected by last summer's floods to over £134 million.
The Minister 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. Government is working closely with the local councils on their applications for financial support through the Bellwin scheme.
