Council house tenants in Mansfield facing rent increase

Mansfield District Council has outlined plans to raise the rent charged to its housing tenants by 2.7 per cent in its forthcoming budget.

A council spokeswoman said: “Following a reduction in council housing rent over the past few years, an increase of 2.7 per cent, in line with government guidelines, is proposed.

“Any income from council rent goes towards improving council housing within the district."

Outlining the authority’s planned 2020-21 budget, Andy Abrahams, district mayor, committed the authority to building 300 affordable and council homes over the next five years.

Mr Abrahams said: “Construction stimulates the economy and will ensure we keep our aspirations on track.”

The council is also planning to raise its share of council tax, also by 2.7 per cent, in the budget, which will be debated by councillors at a meeting on Wednesday, January 22.

A council spokeswoman said: “The 2020-21 budget is designed to help the council deliver its future ambitions under the priority areas of aspiration, growth, wellbeing and place.”

The rent and council tax rise is among a range of “revised fees and charges" proposed by Councillor Craig Whitby, corporate and finance portfolio holder.

The council says the “majority of the increases in fees and charges are in line with inflation", which currently stands at 1.4 per cent.

Mr Abrahams said: “We are pleased we have been able to make a small reduction for market stall holders in order to encourage take up.

“We have tried to spread the burden of balancing the budget by making small changes, such as: charging £1 a day to use Mansfield Woodhouse train station car park, with the first two hours free; a reduction in the number of editions of My Mansfield residents’ magazine from three to two a year; and there has been a small increase in the booking fee at the Palace Theatre.”

The spokeswoman said: “A total of £892,000 in savings have been made out of a net budget requirement of £10 million in order to balance the budget at a time of increased demand on services and low levels of funding from central government.”