South Ayrshire Council will be spending £8.6 million on day to day repairs and maintenance and £8.4 million on upgrading and improving some of the 8,316 houses it owns in the coming year.

A review of the Council's housing revenue account and capital investment programme has been carried out over the past year. As a result of this review the council has announced a 6% increase for its Council house rents for 2009/10.

South Ayrshire Council approved a Housing Business Plan in 2005/06 to improve all houses to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015. Rents were to be linked to the national Retail Price Index figures in the month of September of the preceding year. However to meet the need to improve homes for our tenants the Business Plan requires 1% above the Retail Price Index. The plan has been rigorously reviewed in view of the recent economic downturn.

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The increase will mean the fortnightly rent (based on 48 weeks per year), for a two bedroom double glazed flat, will rise by £5.88 to £104.02.

The Council also agreed an increase of 6.08% for Council lock ups up from £10.83 per fortnight (based on 48 weeks per year) to £11.52 per fortnight and an increase of 6% for garage site rents up from £43.03 per year to £45.61 per year.

Councillor Douglas Campbell, Housing and Customer First Portfolio Carrier said: "Next year will be a difficult year but I've made it clear that I want improvements in the way in which we deliver services across the board, with more emphasis on helping individuals and families through any debt problems, quicker and more effective repairs, and a positive attitude to solving problems in our communities.

"I believe that a range of changes need to be made, key amongst those being tenant involvement and participation in the way in which these policies will be developed."

(CD/JM)