Council rent rise for Wee County

The average council rent will rise to £53.90 per week

Council rents in Clackmannanshire are to rise by nearly 5%, the local authority has said.

The news comes as councillors voted on Wednesday to freeze council tax levels at 2007 levels.

A spokeswoman said as a result of the increase more than £8m would be invested in the area's housing stock over the next year.

The change will see the average rent for council tenants rise 4.8% from £49.18 a week to £51.54.

Councillor Sam Ovens, the regeneration portfolio holder, said the rent rise had been agreed after "extensive consultation" and insisted it would bring real benefits to tenants.

'Quality housing'

He said: "Building on last year's record investment, we intend to spend over £20m on improvements to our housing stock over the next three years.

"Tenants have already told us that their priorities are for new doors and kitchen and bathroom replacement programmes.

"These desirable improvements are already well under way, and in the case of doors, nearing completion.

"Thanks to this investment, the council is on target to deliver Scottish Quality Housing Standard by 2015."

Clackmannanshire Council became the final local authority in Scotland to announce its council tax levels for the coming year on Wednesday.

It joined 31 other councils in Scotland in freezing the tax. Only Stirling voted to reduce rates.