The Labour rules governing council rent increases have been changed by the Coalition to give local councillors a bigger say. The Conservatives are proposing an inflation busting 8.3% increase, whilst the Liberal Democratgroup are fighting to freeze the council house rents.Lib Dem Cllr Allan Witherick, who will be voting for the freeze, said “The old Labour rules have continuallyratcheted up council rents so the coalition government made changes to give local people a bigger say. Wecan see what the Conservatives are proposing and all I can say is that I wish my pay had gone up by 8.3% in one year!”
The Lib Dem proposal could go ahead if they get the full support of the other parties at the Full Council on the 23 February.
…and to increase affordable housing
Separately the Liberal Democrats tabled an amendment to ensure that new developments include 40% affordable housing. This was rejected on the Conservative Chairman’s casting vote.
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