Protest, Full Council Meeting, 3rd March 2014

PROTEST!

Where:      Outside Council House

When:       Full Council meet to agree their budget on 3rd March 2014.

• 20% cuts to council tax benefit proposed. 

• Four times as many people referred to bailiffs in 2013 as 2014 for council tax debt.

• Above inflation rate council house rent increases.

• Closure of Sneinton House – hostel workers made redundant and loss of hostel space for 40 men.

• Closure of Healthy Gay Nottingham.

• And more….

Meanwhile the Council continue to spend money pursuing possession proceedings for tenants in debt because of bedroom tax.

PROTEST!

Monday 3rd March
1pm Market Square

Don’t vote for Nottingham City Council House two tier rent increase!

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Scrap the Bedroom Tax Defend Council Tax Benefits is urging council house tenants not to vote for a divisive rent increase which could hit those who are already struggling to pay their rent including those who cannot pay bedroom tax, harder than others. Nottingham City Council has given tenants only 7 days notice to vote for just two options: 

• Option 1 as: “4.68% [rent increase] for responsible tenants, otherwise 7.5% [rent increase]”. 
•  Option 2: 5.48% increase for all. 

Our group say tenants should refuse to choose Option 1 (two tier rent increase) and should return the questionnaire refusing both options if they think the across the board rent increase (option 2) is too high – Council house rents have increased by over a third in the last five years. We say that the two tier option adds an unnecessary layer of complexity to rent charges, that information about the two tier option is unclear and information on the leaflet about who is not eligible for the lower rent increase is not complete. 

To complete the questionnaire go to: http://www.nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk/documents/paying_your_rent/Rent_Increase_information_Feb%202014.pdf 


 To contact Scrap the Bedroom Tax Defend Council Tax Benefit Nottingham contact: defendcounciltaxbenefits

Meeting on 4th Feb