The floods caused chaos in Hawick

The authority came under fire from South of Scotland SNP MSP Christine Grahame for missing out on its share of �89m from the Scottish Executive.

A spokeswoman for the council said several schemes have been sent to the executive for preliminary approval.

The authority said it had been working to put together flood prevention schemes since 1999.

Ms Grahame criticised the council as neighbouring Dumfries and Galloway had received �638,000 of national funds over the past two years with the Borders making no applications for funding.

"In recent years we have seen very serious flooding across the Borders particularly in Hawick, Galashiels and Selkirk," she said.

Many schemes

"Scottish Borders Council needs to explain why they failed to apply for this money and why homes and businesses in the Borders will be placed at continued risk."

Councillor Gordon Edgar, the authority's executive spokesman for technical services, said a number of schemes were being looked at.

"It is outrageous to suggest that we are putting the welfare of people in the Borders at risk because we have not applied for funding for flood prevention schemes this year," he said.

"The Scottish Executive's �89m funding for flood prevention schemes is available for three years.

"One of our many schemes is already on its way to the executive for preliminary evaluation.

"The remaining scheme reports, due back from our consultants in the next few weeks, will follow," he added.