WINCHESTER civic chiefs are spearheading a new way for council tenants to pay their rent.

A new pre-paid card system is set to be introduced in 2018.

Cllr Stephen Godfrey told cabinet he had been to a workshop that explained how the new system would work.

It is designed for social housing tenants who are on benefits and it allows them to pay for their rent using a new card system.

A number of other councils have shown interest in this scheme.

The council will be issuing more information on the pre-payment scheme closer to the launch in 2018.

After the Cabinet meeting a council spokesperson said: “With the national roll out of Universal Credit under way Winchester City Council is undertaking a joint initiative with the Department of Work and Pensions aimed at supporting working age council tenants who will be affected by the change in the way their housing costs benefits are paid. "

The council will contact people affected later in the summer to give full details about support, advice and assistance available to residents in advance of Universal Credit being available in Winchester from April 2018.

The Cabinet also heard from Councillor Lisa Griffiths that a team of architects has been chosen for the proposed sports and leisure building at Bar End.

The council met eight firms of architects and two firms which have formed a business partnership, LA Architects and Stride Treglown according to Cllr Griffiths “met the brief above and beyond what we were looking for”.

This is just the first step in the process, no designs have yet been made for the sports complex.

Involved in the project are both the city council and Winchester University and together they need to find approximately £30 million to pay for the building. The council are making bids to a number of funding bodies to help with this project.

The Cabinet heard that Cllr Victoria Weston is leaving the Cabinet to make time for a new role in her life away from the council.

Council leader Caroline Horrill said: "I would like to thank her for the great contribution she has made most recently as Deputy Leader, Portfolio Holder for Built Environment and Chair of the Central Winchester IPG.”

Cllr Horrill as Leader will take on Cllr Weston’s previous role as chairman of the Informal Policy Group on Central Winchester Regeneration.

Finally Cabinet agreed a list of Winchester City Councillors appointments to external organisations including Winchester District Citizens Advice, Hampshire Cultural Trust, the Police and Crime Panel, River Hamble Harbour Management Committee and Southampton Airport Consultative Committee.