It's becoming increasingly clear that those with the least are having to give the most in austerity Britain. Residents might have expected that Labour-controlled Bolsover would protect the most vulnerable but today it became clear that the Cabinet is recommending to Council that the full 9% average rent increase recommended by the coalition government is implemented. Nationally a growing list of Council's including Ipswich, Birmingham and Newcastle are recognising that rent increases of this level are simply unaffordable for tenants and are cutting management costs and reducing voids to keep rent increases at, or below, inflation.
The same Bolsover councillors who had no hesitation in rejecting the advice of the independent panel on member allowances (who proposed major cuts to the basic allowance) now seem to say that they have no option but to do the coalition's bidding. The truth is that the Council, not the government, sets rents in Bolsover and if we can freeze Council tax we can certainly keep an increase at, or below, inflation. The question is how many other members of the Council will stand-up for the poorest in our community - we'll find out the answer at next Wednesday's Council meeting, if you are a tenant you might want to come along it starts at 10am.
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