The region currently has the 8th lowest council house rents in Scotland. 

Councillor Peter Barrett, convener of the housing and communities committee, said the below-inflation rise proposal is in line with the views of tenants.

He added: “The 1.5% rent increase is recommended following an innovative and extensive rent-setting consultation. It will ensure our rent levels remain among the most affordable local authority rents in Scotland but still safeguard the delivery of sustained improvements in housing services and deliver our ambitious program of new council house building.”

Cllr Barrett said “As part of our on-going commitment to involve tenants in discussions on rent setting, for the second year running each tenant was given the chance to vote on three different rent increase options. Over 1,000 responses were received which is almost three times as many as last year.”

Innovations and improvements for 2019/20 will include:

• Employment of two housing officers and two housing assistants to strengthen the support provided to tenants.
• Two new trades apprentices
• Estate-Based Initiatives budget will be increased by £50,000 per year for two years to improve neighbourhoods
• An older persons project officer to work to develop new housing solutions for older people
• A trades health & safety compliance officer will be added to the team
• The redevelopment of St Catherine’s Square.

Cllr Barrett said: “These improvements will enable the council to grow our own talent to fill local trades’ gaps. We are also addressing the priorities set by our tenants to deliver value for money, improve both stock and neighbourhoods, and support our aging populations specifically as well as all our tenants especially those with greater needs.”