Environment secretary Elizabeth Truss has hailed a Somerset scheme which is set to see £15 added to local tax bills to fund flood defences. Political editor annabelle dickson asks if we should be considering something similar.

East Anglia's 2013 flooding and scenes of devastation in the north over Christmas have renewed questions about whether we are properly protected from flooding – and how we pay for it.

Somerset is set to introduce a new local tax to raise extra funds to pay for defences. But views are mixed about whether the same should be considered in low-lying Norfolk.

North-West Norfolk MP Sir Henry Bellingham – whose constituency includes part of the coast as well as the River Great Ouse, which is prone to flooding – said he thought it was a good idea.

But he warned that some councils would be more affected than others.

'A lot of the defences were pushed to the limit. They are going to need constant improvement. There is an appetite to look for more innovative ways of funding. It has either got to be taxpayer funded with help from businesses, but there is a limit to what they and voluntary contributions can raise.

'Either the government gives the Environment Agency more money and it is spread out across the country or the authorities most affected say to their citizens we have got a problem. As long as it is done with proper consultation, I believe there will be support for it,' he said.

But Great Yarmouth council leader Graham Plant was less enthusiastic saying even if there was a tax rise it would only scratch the surface of what was needed.

The government announced new powers for councils to raise council tax to pay for social care.

'You can only raise council tax so much. If the county council raise theirs by a minimum of 2pc – and they may raise it more than that – if you then have a rise in the police precept and parish councils and we don't know what the borough councils are going to do... this could see council tax rise fairly significantly,' Mr Plant said.

In North Norfolk, leader Tom Fitzpatrick said it was not something that had been considered. 'It is not for our current budget, but with all these things we will look at the proposals.'

The potential for a local tax for defences comes at the same time leaders are discussion which powers they could be given from Westminster as part of a devolution deal.

Leaders are looking at flood protection as part of its discussions although no detail about which powers could be given to a devolved administration has been discussed.

Should local authorities be raising more money for flood defences through council tax? Write (giving your full contact details) to: The Letters Editor, EDP, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE, or email edpletters@archant.co.uk