Plans have been unveiled for an £11 million investment in council housing in Angus as councillors approved a council house rent increase.

The third-year increase of a four-year phased rent restructure, which was approved back in 2014, will see the average weekly charge rise 3.4 per cent.

The average rent will rise by £2.02 to £61.55 per week, based on the current year average rent figure of £59.53 on a 52-week basis. The proposal will bring in a total rental income increase of £710,000 from last year.

Plans were also set out to spend £11m in the coming year to build almost 100 new homes and improve existing stock.

Communities committee convener, Councillor Donald Morrison, said the phased programme had “successfully introduced a more transparent system that… provides more certainty for customers and helps long-term stability in financial planning.”

He added: “This is an exciting time for our tenant representatives as they begin a new scrutiny programme – this extends the opportunity for them to become more involved in our service delivery decisions, ensuring that we continue to provide what’s important for tenants.

“We are creating places that people are proud to call home, and our tenant representatives are at the heart of this process.”

The multi-million-pound investment includes projects at the Abbey Quarter in Arbroath and the former Chapelpark primary school in Forfar, as well as the replacement of more than 7,000 council house bathrooms up until 2025.

The council’s head of planning and place, Vivien Smith, said: “The rent restructure approved by members in 2014 established rent levels for tenants so that they know how much their rent will be until 2017-18.

“They will, however, continue to receive their statutory 28-day notice annually and members will also continue to be presented with the resultant housing revenue account budget for approval annually.”