COUNCIL house rents in Pendle could rise by two per cent this year if proposals by a team of leading council officers and councillors get the go-ahead.

The rise would generate an extra £154,000 of income for Pendle Council which would go towards meeting a £269,000 shortfall in its housing revenue account.

Council tenants would pay an average of 72p a week extra in the new financial year, which starts on April 1, if the proposals are agreed by the council's services committee tomorrow.

The rise has been recommended by the council's management team of leading officers and councillors.

Another proposed increase in the pipeline is putting up council garage rents by three per cent.

The rent rise would mean weekly rent for a one-bed flat in Clayton Street, Nelson, would rise from £21.61 to £22.04.

A two-bedroomed house in Avon Drive, Barnoldswick, would rise by 84p to £42.78 and tenants in a three-bedroomed house in Red Lane, Colne, would pay £60.92 instead of £59.73.

Pendle is currently halfway in a league table of rents charged by the 13 Lancashire districts which own homes with an average charge of £36.27 a week.

Blackburn, Hyndburn, Burnley and Rossendale are all above it.

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