THE Labour Party has said it wants to see a reduction in the planned rise in rents for tenants in council properties.

Last week, it emerged the council is planning to increase the rents by 2.2 per cent, one per cent above the minimum increase available.

Council leaders say it is to raise funds to upgrade existing properties but the opposition have said it will leave many struggling to pay their rent.

Labour group leader Jim Grant (Lab, Rodbourne Cheney) said: “Recognising that many council tenants are struggling to manage their rising cost of living at the present time, we will be proposing for the council to adopt the minimum increase available for tenant’s rents, a 1.2 per cent increase.

“Our proposal would save tenants more than £40 over the course of the year in rents compared to the Conservative’s plans, and won’t lead to any cuts to the council’s kitchen and bathroom renewals programme as there is sufficient scope in the HRA budget to cover this shortfall in income.”

Speaking last week the cabinet member for housing said the rise was the middle of three rises available and was a fair balance between tenant’s finances and the need to raise money.