Rugby Borough Council rents will drop by one per cent from April, after Conservative Councillors voted for a recommendation when they met at Council yesterday evening. This will see average rents reduce from £83.27 per week to £82.44 per week, with service charges set to stay roughly the same where applicable.

Further proposals approved include heating upgrades for around 65 properties, new bathrooms in around 115 properties and rewiring for around 100 properties. The council will aim to buy a further 12 properties on the open market to rent to council tenants, reinvesting in housing where properties have been bought under the Right to Buy.

Cllr. Emma Crane, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for communities and homes, said: "Tenants will be pleased to hear that rents will be reduced by a further one per cent next year, and that we intend to continue investing in our homes. Better heating, new bathrooms, and more council-owned homes, will mean lower energy costs and improved living standards for more Rugbeians."

The Housing Revenue Account budget was set at a special meeting of the council that was held on 6 February 2018.

Cllr. Michael Stokes, Leader of The Council and The Conservative Group said; This was a no brainer for Conservative Councillors, and means a reduction in rent for some of our most vulnerable residents and a maintenance programme that will see the high quality of our properties continued. Yet, I was astonished that the Labour Group voted against these proposals, without offering an alternative and no debate regarding the reasons why.  Less surprising, but still disappointing, the Liberal Democrat Group took their usual stance and chose to abstain from any decision making during the vote."