MADAM – I do not usually feel compelled to write to the letters page, preferring the good work that the Labour-led council undertakes with our tenants to be reflected in the pages of our local press.

Unfortunately last week this was clearly not the case. Your front page story, and subsequent editorial, gave a wholly one-sided and untrue account of the situation faced by some of our tenants as a result of the Tory Government’s cruel bedroom tax, and the actions Stroud District Council are currently taking to alleviate the devastating consequences now facing some of our hardest hit tenants.

I can understand Green Party Cllr Caroline Malloy wishes to see justice done for the tenants she represents, as we all do, but perhaps being new to the council she is not aware of the work done by the Labour-led administration to mitigate against this awful tax for the people in our district.

To date we have contacted every tenant affected by the bedroom tax to offer support, and those who have chosen to work with us have received practical and financial support.

We also work proactively with other agencies like the CAB who have a dedicated officer, funded by us, who can offer advice and support on this and many other matters relating to the ever changing benefit system.

We should be proud that we have the lowest eviction record in the country and that we do everything possible to keep people in their homes.

Our tenant representatives fully support our policy regarding the ending of tenancies, and these usually come about due only to circumstances such as anti-social behaviour, wilful non-payment of rent, or extreme abuse of tenancy agreements.

Emotive and knee jerk reactions are gesture politics and help no one, least of all the hardest hit and most vulnerable members of our society. This is not a local policy, it is the Tory Government policy which we have to comply with, and we have to work within the parameters set down by them.

The Labour Government will scrap the bedroom tax once and for all. I would add that the attempt to demonise Stroud district officers by saying they have denied payments and have made it difficult for those in need I find particularly unhelpful and saddening.

They are doing all they can to alleviate suffering via our roadshows and 'Tenants On Tour' events, which actively engage with those in our communities most in need of help and advice, but these rarely make the pages of the local newspapers as easily as untruthful scare stories.

Cllr Mattie Ross

Labour and Co operative ward member for Stonehouse Chairman of Housing Stroud District Council