Stoke-on-Trent Council Proposes New Tenant Charge for Estate Maintenance

Approximately 18,000 tenants residing in council properties within Stoke-on-Trent may face an annual increase of £52 in their charges. This proposed rise is intended to contribute towards the expenses of maintaining their estates, including services like grass cutting and litter collection. Previously, Stoke-on-Trent City Council funded these services through rental income. However, the council has stated that current budget constraints render this approach unsustainable. This new fee would be levied in addition to existing rent and council tax payments. Should it receive approval, its implementation would begin in April, with an annual review thereafter. Two Members of Parliament representing the city have formally communicated their objection to the proposed plans to the authority. They highlighted that residents continue to contend with the cost of living crisis and expressed concerns about the perceived inequity of a charge that would fund services benefiting all estate residents, yet be borne solely by council house tenants. David Williams, the MP for Stoke-on-Trent North and a city councillor for the Little Chell and Stanfield ward, noted that numerous properties formerly owned by the council are now privately owned, having been acquired via the right-to-buy initiative. He stated, “The proposed amenity charge would only impact those who rent their homes from the council, although everyone who lives on the estates would benefit from the service.” He further commented, “Too many families in our city are already struggling to afford the basics, and I fear that this proposal would particularly impact those in most need of help.” Allison Gardner, the MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, conveyed widespread apprehension that the suggested £1 per week charge could potentially increase “well beyond that sum” in subsequent years. Councillor Chris Robinson, the cabinet member for housing at the local authority, explained that the council is no longer able to cover the expenses associated with grass cutting, weed spraying, litter collection, and path clearing. He indicated a necessity to recoup a portion of the costs for delivering these services. He affirmed, “Our tenants matter to us and we are trying our best to minimise the impact of these changes by limiting this proposed charge to £1 per week.” He continued, “This won’t cover the full cost of these services which means the council would still be covering the shortfall.” He concluded by stating, “We are conscious of the impact this additional charge would have on our tenants and we are not putting this proposal forward lightly.” According to him, the introduction of this new fee would enable the council to maintain investment in its housing stock. This report was compiled by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, an entity that covers local councils and other public service bodies. For updates, follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.