THURROCK councillors fear residents will be hit hard by a 7.7 per cent increase in council rents and have called on the authority's cabinet to look at reducing the numbers.

Councils are allowed to increase rents by inflation at 6.7 per cent plus 1 per cent and the debt-laden borough plans to charge the maximum during 2024/25 in order to "maintain its housing stock to a decent standard".

The increases, which include a 7.7 per cent increase in service charges, will net the council an extra £4.425million, including a £1.5million surplus, which will be added to the housing revenue account reserves.

Speaking at a housing overview and scrutiny committee meeting on last night (Tuesday, 9 January), Cllr Neil Speight, Independent councillor for Stanford-le-Hope West, spoke about what he perceived as unfair charges being leveied on borough resdients.

He said: "For example we are charging older people to wear care badges round their necks which is one of the most appalling things I have come across in local government.

"I am fundamentally against this increase. I will not be supporting it. I don't feel comfortable charging our teants an above inflation increase.

"It sounds as if I'm being the Grinch or Scrooge or whatever but it appears to me there are a lot of things in this capital programme that you could take a knife to.

"I'm really against this 7.7 per cent increase and if we could shave some money off the capital programme we could probably bring that figure down.

"I'm not sure that we have done enough. We are saying we will charge our tenants 7.7 per cent but I am not sure we couldn't actually, with a little bit of - you might even call it cruelty - but nevertheless with a little bit of prudence we could reduce the substantial amount of these figures on here.

"Looking through them all they are big numbers. wates want to have another two years on their contract - let them drop their prioces then.

There's all sorts of things that can be done and I am not sure that we are being as proactive as we need to be.

"We as representatives of the people get it in the neck and, I'm not being disparaging, accountants look at a book of figures. The two things are not always on the same lines.

"We are getting people saying 'Oh god you are putting my rent up. why are you doing it? '

"And if I am saying 'well actually it because we want to spend a bit of money on this and we want to spend some money on this that and the other that's not essential, then my argument loses its validity. I do not approve of this.

"I would like the figures to be reviewed because I do think there is plenty we could cut out of this capital programme. "

Questionning how councillors can justify decision making in its entirety when people are struggling he said: "It's not just housing, it's issues of health. I get the phone call from the woman who says I can't afford to pay my council rent. I'm at the end of my tether, I feel like killing myself.

"Her mental heath and her well-being is damaged by what we do. It's unfair.

"It is an impossible juggling act, largely down to the incompetence of what's gone on in the council but that's gone, we've got to live with it now."

Cllr Maureen Pearce, Conservative councillor for Aveley and Uplands, added:  "This rise in the rent concerns me. I think it's a bit over the top.

"What with council tax going up and everything else it's just hit the cost of living overall. That concerns me. It's pretty unfair. It's so worrying."

Councillors called for assurances the rent increases would be spent on maintain the council's housing stock to a decent standard. They were told the increase in rents will help to make sure things like the Blackshots tower block replacement scheme can be done.

Committee chair Cllr James Halden said he would make sure cabinet members got a full briefing on the narrative of concern of committee members

Committee chairman Cllr James Halden called for the full minutes of councillors' discussions be forwarded to the cabinet to ensure their concerns were noted.

If approved by cabinet and council, rental on a two bedroom home will increase from £90.99 a week to £97.99 for tenants already hit with sharp rises in the cost of living.

Garage rent for council residents are also set to rise from £12.10 per week to £15.00. Rental for travellers sites will also increase from £95.28 to £100.

The full meeting and debates can be viewed via this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwEwwtBbQPo