ShelaghI can't comment on people's individual reasons for not working. I dare say there are some who would like to find work but can't, and others who have no interest in working.However the reason for the above-inflation increase in council rents is that local authorities are effectively compelled to set rents according to the government's suggested formula. The number or percentage of people out of work in any particular borough has no direct bearing on how much rent you pay.You may possibly be aware that last week Margaret Beckett announced that the government would be responding positively to lobbying by boroughs such as Hounslow and reducing the percentage increases that we have been compelled to make. We are currently studying the logistics of this and exactly how it would work, however what it means in effect is the government's proposed rent increase will in actual fact be lower than the 6.95% we were originally forced to set it at. This is of course good news, although it is worth bearing in mind that we will still be dealing with an above-inflation rent increase which we have been given no option other than to impose. And it is people like your good self, those who are not in receipt of benefit, who sadly will be the losers.
Phil Andrews ● 6290d