COUNCIL housing rents in Harlow are to increase by an average of £1.91 per week for the next financial year.

Councillor Derek Eardley said: "We would prefer not to increase rents but we've managed to deliver a housing budget which achieves major savings while avoiding frontline cuts."

The council is planning to improve and broaden its service over the next financial year by developing partnership agreements for repairs and maintenance services, and appointing an empty property manager to reduce the time that properties are left redundant.