PART VICTORY FOR WOODSEATS SCHOOL ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGNERS
Steve Ayris
Liberal Democrat Councillor for Graves Park Ward - Working All Year Round Learn more
Lib Dem councillor Steve Ayris comments on his motion to Full Council opposing the closure of the Walk In Centre and Minor Injuries Unit
Liberal Democrats launch manifesto to change Britain's future
PART VICTORY FOR WOODSEATS SCHOOL ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGNERS
Lib Dem councillor Steve Ayris comments on his motion to Full Council opposing the closure of the Walk In Centre and Minor Injuries Unit
Liberal Democrats launch manifesto to change Britain's future
6.2% RENT HIKE FACES NEW CRITICISM AS COUNCIL REVEALS £10 MILLION SURPLUS
by Steve Ayris on 26 March, 2014
Sheffield City Council have faced fresh pressure to drop its inflation-busting rent rise as Council budget papers revealed a £10m surplus in its housing account.
A budget monitoring report, agreed by the Council’s Cabinet last week, reveals that Sheffield’s Housing Revenue Account is predicted to generate a £10.2 million surplus – an unexpected £4.3 million better than estimated at the start of the financial year.
Despite the positive news, Labour council bosses intend to push ahead with a planned 6.2% hike in council housing rents. The hike, which is more than three times inflation, will see the average council tenant hit with an increase of £216 in their annual rent bill.
Proposals brought forward by opposition Liberal Democrats in February, which would have halved the proposed hike, would cost roughly £3.1 million – less than the £4.3 million unexpected surplus.
Cllr Penny Baker, Sheffield Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Housing, said:
“We have consistently said that the Council’s £216 rent bombshell was unfair and unnecessary. Labour’s own budget papers show they are running a £10 million surplus in their housing account but they are still planning to hike rents at more than three times the rate of inflation.
“Other councils have lowered their rent hikes to help protect tenants who are struggling to makes ends meet – yet Labour bosses in Sheffield refuse to lift a finger.
“We’ll continue to campaign to get Labour to re-think their rent bombshell.”
See extract below from the Council’s Budget Monitoring Report, which was approved by the Council’s Cabinet last week (Wed 19th Mar):
· Sheffield’s proposed rise of 6.2% will see the average tenant hit with a £216 hike in their rents. Other local authorities including Lib Dem-run Portsmouth and Labour-run Dudley have raised rents below national guidelines. See link below to a quote from Dudley’s Cabinet Member for Housing citing increased Government flexibility for their decision:
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2014/02/06/206m-to-be-ploughed-into-dudley-council-homes/
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