The leader of Luton Borough Council has said the way rent rises for scout groups were initially handled was “regrettable”.
Hazel Simmons was speaking in response to the submission of a petition of more than 1,200 signatures calling for a rethink on the policy of increasing rents across the town.
The petition was presented at a full council meeting at the Town Hall last Tuesday, by Luton News news editor Sally-Anne Stewart.
There was outcry last year when the council decided to increase the rent for St Augustine’s scout group from £150 a year to £8,000.
It prompted the ‘Don’t Price Us Out’ campaign from the Luton News, in support of charities, businesses and community groups affected.
Responding, Councillor Simmons said the council needed to cut £48 million from its budget over the next three years.
“This means we are working in very difficult financial restraints and to cope with this we have to make cuts and increase income,” she said.
“We took a decision in July 2012 to discontinue the rent alleviation scheme and to bring in a new workable framework for charging for council buildings as the basis for working with all our partners. This included a fair and consistent approach to concessions as the old approach was not consistent.
“I accept that there were issues around the process of the initial discussions with the scouts that were regrettable.
“However, myself and the chief executive have held discussions with the scouts just before Christmas and are currently in the process of negotiating a settlement with them.”
She said the council had also been working with voluntary groups on a community funding policy that had been “broadly welcomed”.
The petition will also be discussed by the council’s finance scrutiny review group and executive committee.