RENTS due from community groups to Tendring Council have been waived for this financial year.

Organisations which are part of the Community Assets Rent Offsetting Scheme will not be charged for April 2021 to March 2022, to help them recover from Covid-19.

Any planned rent increases or reviews for the 2021/22 financial year will also be paused so as not to put up costs for the next year.

Carlo Guglielmi, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, said the measure would help those doing good work in the community.

“These clubs and organisations have had a lot of burdens placed on them over the past 18 months, with many forced to close due to restrictions or their venues being used for other things such as vaccination centres,” he said.

“This is a way to help those organisations which have not been able to operate as they were and help them out to in turn support our residents and communities, from getting people fit, to tacking isolation, or just maintaining a hobby or interest.”

The cost to the council is just over £83,000, which can be recovered from Government Covid-funding provided to local authorities.