Under the Bellwin scheme, local authorities dealing with the effects of the storm can apply to have 100% of the eligible costs they incur above a threshold reimbursed by the government.

The scheme has been activated for qualifying areas in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Worcestershire and Herefordshire which saw significant impacts from the storm.

Jenrick said: “The government is doing everything it can to ensure communities are supported in recovering from flood damage, and by activating our emergency financial assistance scheme, we are making sure that those places hit the hardest will be able to access funding to help them deal with the aftermath of the storm.”

The grant will contribute to the cost of the new Meridian Water Station and accelerate the delivery of at least 1,528 new homes, according to a council report.

A report by officers at the council said that the grant would “improve the capital cost position both for the project itself and for Meridian Water as a scheme”.

Ballard joins from his previous role at financial services firm Willis Towers Watson, where he acted as a senior consultant advising private sector defined benefit pensions schemes.

LPFA managing director Robert Branagh said, “Peter’s appointment will help us continue to deliver value for money, high quality customer service and meet our obligations to members and employers.”

Dawes has been permanent secretary at the department since 2015 and is set to take up her new position in early March.

Jeremy Pocklington, director general of housing at MHCLG, will be acting permanent secretary while the process of appointing a successor is carried out.

An MHCLG spokesperson said: “We congratulate Dame Melanie Dawes for her appointment as Chief Executive of Ofcom and offer our thanks for all her dedication, hard work and achievements over these past five years.”

In a statement, Dawes said: “Ofcom plays a crucial role in ensuring that people and businesses across the UK get the best from their communications services.

“It’s a great privilege to be appointed as chief executive at a time of significant change in the sectors Ofcom regulates.”

The package will pay for measures including more “turn up and go” bus routes, 4,000 zero emissions buses and new cycle routes, the government said.

More details about the five-year funding programme will be announced in the upcoming National Bus Strategy, to be published later this year at the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Johnson said: “Local transport connections have a truly transformative role to play in levelling up infrastructure across the country.”

Under the scheme, councils dealing with the effects of the storm can claim 100% of the eligible costs they incur, above a threshold, reimbursed by central government.

The scheme has been activated for qualifying areas in West Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire significant impacted over the weekend by the storm.

Jenrick said: “Storm Ciara has had damaging effects on communities in the north of England, and I want to praise the efforts of the emergency services and key agencies who have responded to the disruption.”

Viscount Younger of Leckie, minister in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, gave the figure in the House of Lords this week.

The pools have estimated total savings by 2033 at between £1bn and £2bn, with annual savings of up to £200m.

The council’s medium term financial strategy, published this week, said the council would balance its 2020/21 budget by using £30m of grants from central government, including New Homes Bonus, Improved Better Care Funding, and extra social care funding.

However, its strategy assumes that it won’t receive any central government grants next year, and will use a £19m emergency reserve set up to assist with any potential funding shortfall when the Fair Funding Review is implemented.

The council also said that it hopes to raise more cash by repurposing the Pride Hill Shopping Centre in Shrewsbury, which it purchased in 2018 for leisure uses.

It said that this would “address the structural changes in the retail market which [are] being experienced across the country”.