Tuesday 25th January 2011

Chesterfield Borough Council has today apologised after an administrative error was discovered in around 4% of it's rent payments.

Out of 10,000 tenants, it's calculated that as many as 400 have been paying the wrong amounts - some going as far back as 2006/07.

The council is stressing that most of those affected have been undercharged, rather than overcharged, and that anyone who has overpaid rents will be repaid in full.

No one who has been undercharged will be asked to pay money back.

Letters are being sent out to anyone affected by this and the Council has told The Chesterfield Post that any tenant not receiving a letter should assume they have been paying the correct amount and have no need to contact the Housing Department.

The Council says that it will apply the corrected rent charges from April 2011 as part of the usual annual rents review process and that those tenants that have been undercharged will see a higher increase in their rent charges this year.

However, as many are already in receipt of Housing Benefit, payments will increase to cover the additional charge.

Cllr Tony Rogers, Lead Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods said: "We sincerely apologise to those tenants affected by this administrative error. Any tenant who has been overcharged will be reimbursed in full. The circumstances causing the error have now been reviewed and it will not occur again."

There may also be tenants who, because of the rent increase, now become eligible for Housing Benefit. Tenants should contact the Council's Benefits Team on 01246 345484 for more information.

Anyone with concerns about their situation should contact the Council's Customer Services on 01246 345504 for more information.

RECENT STORIES

MP FACES GRILLING FROM LOCAL YOUNGSTERS -
David Dimbleby may not have been present but that didn't stop local youngsters taking part in a Question Time style session with MP Natascha Engel. More...

LOCAL COUNCIL FREEZES COUNCIL TAX -
Good news for some residents in Chesterfield after NE Derbyshire District Council announced it's looking to freeze this year’s Council Tax bill. More...

CHESTERFIELD MP CALLS ON GOVT TO HELP SAVE AUTO WINDSCREENS JOBS -
Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins today issued a statement regarding the potential loss of 400 local jobs at Hasland based Auto Windscreens More...

'VISIONARY' COUNCILLOR WINS TOP AWARD -
He oversaw the transformation of a local Council in the fastest time in Local Government history and now receives the country's top councilor honour. More...

CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE? -
If you've ever listened to a Councillor and thought you'd do better, or you care about your community and think you could help to improve services in the area, then read on... More...

LOCAL MP SPEAKS OUT FOR SPORT -
MP For NE Derbys, Natascha Engel, yesterday challenged Education Secretary Michael Gove in Parliament over the money owed to School Sport Partnerships More...

COUNCILS MOOT PLANS FOR A MERGER TO SAVE £1.5M -
2 local Councils confirm that they're looking at combining some resources to provide a cost cutting service for residents. More...

A BUSY START TO THE YEAR FOR MP NATASCHA -
With the cuts in budgets and services really starting to bite, we are seeing a far greater number of people coming to surgery as well as dropping in. More...

COUNCIL LEADER IN LINE FOR AWARD -
NEDDC Leader, Cllr Graham Baxter MBE will soon tread the red carpet after being short-listed for a prestigious national accolade for his work in leading the authority. More...

YOUR CHANCE TO BECOME A LOCAL COUNCILLOR -
Ahead of the local Elections in May, North East Derbyshire District Council is encouraging locals with an interest in becoming a Councillor to find out more. More...

LOCAL PHARMACIST WINS AWARD -
Toby Perkins MP presented an Award to a Chesterfield Pharmacist in recognition of her work in helping to combat blood clots. More...

COUNCIL TESTS LOCAL TAXI FIRMS -
Chesterfield Borough Council has conducted an undercover operation to try and catch private taxi firms plying for trade. More...

KIDS 1, GOVE 0 -
Local Schools benefit after Government U-turn on School Sport Partnership funding. More...

NATASCHA ENGELS YEAR IN PARLIAMENT REVIEW -
NOT WHAT WE VOTED FOR! Last year was dominated by one of the fiercest General Election battles this country has known. More...

VOLUNTEER SHINES AT AWARDS -
A Chesterfield Law Centre worker is celebrating after winning a prestigious award at a ceremony aimed at celebrating the work of volunteers at organisations in the town. More...

MP TAKES TO THE SHOP FLOOR... -
Visitors to Barnardo's charity shop in Chesterfield were served by a very familiar face last Saturday.Toby Perkins MP for Chesterfield, joined the shop's workforce for the day. More...

VICTORY FOR CHESTERFIELD! -
Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins celebrated with delighted residents, businesses and campaigners as DCC rejected plans for a waste incinerator plant on Dunston Road. More...

CHESTERFIELD MP SPEAKS OUT AGAINST SPENDING REVIEW -
Toby Perkins MP told the Chesterfield Post: "Chesterfield is going to be badly affected b the cuts, probably more so than anywhere else in Derbyshire" More...

NATASCHA ENGEL MP CHECKS ON NEW SERVICES AT LOCAL SURGERY -
North East Derbyshire MP, Natascha Engel, has seen first hand how the introduction of new initiatives has benefitted patients in Clay Cross. More...

CHESTERFIELD MP AWARDED A FRONT BENCH ROLE -
A few days after the Shadow Cabinet was announced by new Labour leader Ed Miliband, news comes that Chesterfield MP, Toby Perkins, has been awarded a post on the frontbench team.More...

TOBY PERKINS MP SPEAKS ABOUT NEW SHADOW CABINET -
Chesterfield Post Editor Karen Johnson spoke with Toby about his thoughts on the new Shadow Cabinet announced by Ed Miliband on friday. More...

CHESTERFIELD LABOUR PARTY NUMBERS RISE -
After Ed Miliband was elected Leader of the Labour Party at the party Conference last week, Chesterfield Labour Party is reporting a rise in it's membership, More...

LOCAL MP "DELIGHTED" BY ED MILIBAND WIN -
Natascha Engel, Labour MP for NE Derbyshire has declared she is "delighted" after Ed Miliband was elected Leader of the Labour Party. More...

SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION FOR
ALL CHILDREN WORLDWIDE -
Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins joined TV presenter Gary Lineker and his wife Danielle to support for the 1 GOAL campaign at the Houses of Parliament. More...

VANDALS 'HAVEN' IS UNSAFE SAYS MP -
Residents and businesses near to a Chesterfield skate park are claiming they're under siege from youths who congregate there. More...

WORLD'S BIGGEST COFFE MORNING HITS THE SPOT IN BRIMINGTON -
On Friday September 24th, Brimington Bowls Club was the venue for an World's Biggest Coffee Morning event ,raising money for Macmillan Support. More...