Disabled Southend Council tenants will no longer be charged for paying their rent at post offices and banks.

The move came as councillors on the housing and environmental services committee reviewed the rules for handing out "no fee" rent books.

Most council tenants have to pay a charge for using rent books at post offices or banks.

Now councillors have agreed disabled tenants will be exempted from paying the charge.

They also altered the rules so couples can benefit from a "no fee" rent book when one of them is of pensionable age.

Previously the charge was waived for couples when the husband was 65 years old.

Officers recommended changing the wording so couples where the wife is 60 but the husband is younger can now get the "no fee" rent books.

However, Nigel Baker (Lib Dem, Leigh) wanted to go a step further because single male tenants have to wait until they are 65 for the benefit but women qualify at 60.

He said: "I think they should both get free books at the same time otherwise it is basically unfair."

A new report explaining the estimated costs will be prepared for the next meeting of the committee.

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