HARD-to-fill council houses may be offered to tenants at a discount in a bid to prevent them lying empty.

Tory group leader Councillor Peter Britcliffe, put the idea of introductory discounts forward as Hyndburn Council's policy and resources committee considered a report on the need for savings to balance the housing budget.

Coun Britcliffe said: "If we could reduce the number of voids we would bring more money into the coffers and help the housing department in general."

People are paying £60 or £70 a week to stay in bedsit flats above shops, he added.

Coun Britcliffe said a cheap rent scheme, perhaps for 12 months, might act as an inducement for people to move into houses that were difficult to let. Director of community services Edgar Bignell, said the current number of voids was the lowest for a considerable time, due to a series of successful initiatives by the housing committee.

Mr Bignell said he would be pleased to hear from anyone wanting to be considered for a council house.

Housing committee chairman Coun Clifford Westell, said only Woodnook and Huncoat were lagging behind as estates where empty houses were at 'an undesirable level.'

Coun Sheelagh Delaney said there was an in-built financial incentive if people were paying £70 for a 'grotty' flat and could be in a council house for between £40 and £50. A lot would be on housing benefit anyway, she pointed out.

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