Earlier this evening I asked cabinet to recommend the minimum increase that was consistent with a sustainable business plan. Wage freezes and job insecurity is still normal for many of us and the welfare reform bill is going to cause further difficulty for many families and working people. A slightly below inflation increase will help secure the future of our housing stock while adding the minimum amount of pressure to people’s pockets.
It’s a tough line to walk as it’s important to protect the housing stock for future generations (literally – our current business plan is 30 years long!) but at the same time the welfare reform bill, the economic crisis and wage freezes mean that many people’s finances are under real pressure.
Cabinet agreed and we have recommended a 3% rise to be approved by council next week. On average this means a £2.98 per week increase.