Sheffield Labour Back Rent Bombshell

12.00.00am GMT Mon 8th Feb 2010

Liberal Democrats on Sheffield City Council have hit out at Sheffield's Labour Councillors, who voted against asking the Labour Government to reduce the proposed rent increase for council tenants in 2010/11. The increase is set to cost local tenants an average of more than £100 a year extra.

Recent meetings between Sheffield councillors with the Labour Minster for Housing, John Healey MP, have revealed that the proposed rent increase for Sheffield's tenants next year has been decided by him. In a letter confirming this policy the Labour Minister notes rent rises as 'reasonable and affordable'.

At last week's meeting of Sheffield City Council the Lib Dems labelled the 3.6% rent increase as 'unreasonable and unaffordable' and proposed to write to the Minister to ask him to lower the proposed rent levels. The Lib Dem proposal was passed even though Labour councillors voted against.

Cllr Bob McCann, Liberal Democrat Cabinet member for Housing, said:

"It beggars belief that Labour Government ministers think that slamming tenants with a £100 rent bombshell is "reasonable and affordable". It might well be for someone on their salaries, but it isn't for most council tenants in Sheffield. I'm shocked that Sheffield's Labour councillors, some of whom represent council tenants, are backing their own Government on this."

Cllr Paul Scriven, Liberal Democrat Leader of Sheffield City Council, said

"If Labour Councillors think this increase is "reasonable" then they have clearly lost touch. I'm just glad that the Liberal Democrats had enough votes to defeat them so that the Council will now take the fight for lower rents to the Minister and ask him to think again."