"DIFFICULT times" mean Bromsgrove District Council has had to raise rents unless tenants want to see a reduction in services, according to an officer's report.

At tomorrow night's meeting of the authority's housing and planning scrutiny committee, members are set to look over the housing revenue account (HRA).

Members will hear a report compiled by the authority's head of financial services, Andrew Fisher, which says: "Local authorities in general are going through difficult times.

"Services have to be paid for which, under present conditions, means increasingly higher rents.

"Members and tenants have to accept this.

"The alternative is a reduction in the provision of services and members have to decide whether they wish to make that decision."

The committee will also discuss the sale of council dwellings and decide which topics to discuss at its next meeting on May 31.