An East Lancashire local authority is set to increase the charge to members of the public for renting garage plots.

Hyndburn Council's cabinet on Wednesday will be asked to authorise the rise from £102 to £110 per year (excluding VAT) with effect from April 1.

The authority owns 184 garage plots and will see an increase in its annual rental income from them from £18,200 to £19,500 at the present level of occupation.

A report to his cabinet colleagues by council deputy leader Cllr Noordad Aziz says: "The council completes a garage rent review every three years, with the aim of ensuring that the garage plot rents keep pace with inflation.

"It is reasonable for the council to increase the garage plot rents having taken into consideration the annual rate of inflation and rents charged by neighbouring local authorities.

"The council last increased the annual garage plot rent on April 1, 2022.

"Allowing for the annual rate of inflation from 2022, and rent comparisons charged by neighbouring local authorities, it is recommended that the annual rent be increased to £110.00 from April 1, 2025.

"The term “garage plot”, for the purpose of this report, means an area of land owned by the council roughly equal in size to that which permits the erection of a three metre by six metre single garage, together with a narrow strip of land around the plot thereby permitting vehicle access and garage maintenance.

"Garage plots are rented to members of the public (the tenants) who may, at their own expense, erect a garage which can be used for parking a domestic motor vehicle.

"Some plots are used for parking cars or caravan storage without a garage building.

"It is a condition of the agreement that the garage plots are not used for commercial purposes and that the garage itself and the plot are maintained by the tenant.

"The council has 184 garage plots, all of which were tenanted at the time of writing.

"The council's proposed annual rent of £110.00 is comparable with neighbouring local authorities: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council £96.00; Pendle Borough Council £120.00; Burnley Borough Council £92.30; and Rossendale Borough Council £190.00

"In reaching the recommended rent, consideration has been given to the annual rate of inflation since 2022 and that is predicted from 2025 onwards."