No delay on rent increases
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A bid to delay rent increases being imposed on scouts and other voluntary groups has failed.
Luton Council’s finance review group had asked the executive committee not to implement the rent rises until alternative funding was in place.
Members said that while they understood the council needed to bring in more income to cope with budget cuts, they felt the rent increases “could have been handled better”.
Scout group St Augustine’s will see its rent go up from £150 a year to £8,000.
The council is covering the rent increase in the first year and reducing its level of assistance year on year.
Leader Caroline Sutherst told the Luton News recently: “We have still got concerns about the amount we are being asked to pay.
“We all volunteer and the main thing we do is get children out and about – the leaders don’t have time to fundraise that amoutnt of money on top of that.”
Lib Dem group leader David Franks said: “I have suggested the scouts and the other groups affected contact the Beds and Luton Community Foundation because they have been allocated a lump of money from one of the airport charity funds.
“But they should have been told about that before the increases. It wasn’t done at all well.”
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Weather for Luton
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 10 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North
