COUNCIL rent collectors in Caerphilly county borough say they are furious over plans to make changes to their working arrangements.

The local authority's cabinet is proposing to change door-to-door collections of tenants' rent from weekly to fortnightly - and a decision will be made at a meeting of Caerphilly council next week.

The proposals were drawn up following advice from police after a rent collector was attacked while on his round. Council officers had originally recommended ending the collections completely - although they admitted the move would be unpopular with tenants.

Cabinet members have now come up with proposals to carry out the collections each fortnight instead.

The rent collectors, however, have now told the Argus that they want to continue collecting on a weekly basis.

A spokesman, who did not wish to be named, said the collectors were prepared to carry on, despite the attack last year.

He said changing to fortnightly collections would mean collectors would be carrying more money than before - and that the eight rent collectors were concerned they could be even more of a target than before.

"We have more than 140 years of experience between us," he told the Argus. "The attack was the first time anything like that has ever happened.

"It was a one-off incident and we are all prepared to carry on as before."

He said the collectors are also annoyed that they have been told they will not be allowed to speak and put over their point of view at next week's council meeting.

A council spokesman said: "The safety of employees is of the utmost importance to the authority and these proposals came about following an attack on a rent collector and subsequent advice from Gwent Police.

"Staff affected by the proposals have been consulted and will be able to use the appropriate channels in the authority to raise any concerns."

It is also recommended to council that unions are consulted on the proposal. Tenants would also be informed of the changes at least three months before they became effective.