The small print of Cameron's I'll pick up the tab comments

Here's a leaked email of what David Cameron actually means. Seems like a climb down from the blank cheque policy. The small print now is emerging and it looks like Cameron meant the existing Bellwin scheme not actually anything new, more political spin from the pr man.

The key factor for us here in West Cornwall is the long term, it looks like after significant expenditure by Cornwall Council the relief effort will be reimbursed for most of that cost (assuming that the money is found).  Here things like the promenade at Newlyn Green, Penzance harbour's South Pier. The damages to the baulks at Mousehole harbour, complete replacement baulks at Porthleven among other things look in doubt. 

This is before we consider flood defences that are needed, for example the problems at Loe Bar with the overflow not clearing water and risking backing up the Cober to Helston. Or the amount of damage to the road surfaces with the recent bad weather. I've already reported the large pothole in Treneere, which has the intermediate and unsatisfactory fix of a ramp sign. The estimates of costs to Cornwall of the recent storms are over £20 million. I sincerely hope the cynicism and backtracking suggested from this email is a false impression. That this money will be paid as promised by the PM. Or Cornwall Council is going to have to cut yet more front line services to pay for this all.