RENT increases of more than £4 a week are in the pipeline for Bromsgrove council tenants, as councillors look set to give a nine per cent hike the go-ahead tonight.

Bromsgrove District councillors will discuss the recommended increase of £4.11 a week, at tonight's executive cabinet meeting at the Council House in Burcot Lane.

The council's finance chief, Andrew Fisher, claims that if the council went along with the Government's guidelines and increased rent by just 6.6 per cent this year then it would have a detrimental affect.

He claims the council's working balances, which are there to be used for unforeseen expenditure, would fall or services in the town would have to be cut.

In an article in the Advertiser/Messenger last year, the district council claimed that the 10 per cent rent increase for 2001 to 2002 would mean a more modest increase this year.

Leader of the council, Cllr Nick Psirides (Con, Norton) said: "As a council we have to reach a rent parity with housing association rents and we have a target to meet over a ten year plan.

"This is irrespective of whether the council is successful in transferring its housing stocks to a registered social landlord."

Labour's housing spokesperson, Cllr Cathy Mole (Lab, Sidemoor), said: "I think it is very unfortunate that the council is indicating this is the way it's going to go.

"It is quite a big increase and for a lot of people in the area it will hit them quite badly, it is very unfair."