Cabinet Member for Housing

BCa/18/63 –HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT (HRA) BUDGET AND FOUR YEAR OUTLOOK

It was RESOLVED: -

That Cabinet recommends to Council:-

1.1           That the HRA Budget proposals set out in the report be approved.

1.1           That the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme 2019/20 to 2022/23 and HRA Budget for 2019/20 be agreed.

1.2           That the mandatory decrease of 1% in Council House rents, equivalent to an average rent reduction of £0.90 a week as required by the Welfare Reform and Work Act, be implemented.

1.3           That garage rents be kept at the same level as last year.

1.4           That Sheltered Housing Service charges be kept at the same level as last year.

1.5           That Sheltered Housing utility charges be increased by 5% (average £0.61 increase per week).

1.6           That in principle, Right to Buy receipts should be retained to enable continued development and acquisition of new council dwellings.

1.7           That the revised HRA Business Plan in Appendix B of the report be noted.

Reason for Decision: To bring together all the relevant information to enable Cabinet Members to review, consider and comment upon the Council’s Housing Revenue Account budget before taking the recommendations to February Council.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2019/20 and four-year outlook is an essential element in achieving a balanced budget and sustainable medium-term position, therefore no other options are appropriate in respect of this.

Any Declarations of Interest declared: None

Any Dispensation Granted: None

117.1 Councillor Jan Osborne introduced the report and informed Cabinet that since Cabinet had approved the proposed draft HRA Budget plan at its meeting in January the report had been reviewed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and had received positive comments and feedback, with no changes being proposed. It was therefore the same report that had come before Cabinet in January. The key recommendations were as follows:-

·       Rents to be reduced by 1%

·       Garage rents and sheltered housing rents to be kept at the same levels as the current year

·       Sheltered housing utility charges to be increased by 5%

117.2 In addition to this the Council was looking to develop 178 new homes over the next three years.

117.3 Councillor Osborne then MOVED the recommendations in the report, which Councillor Ridley SECONDED.

It was RESOLVED: -

That Cabinet recommends to Council:-

(i)                  That the HRA Budget proposals set out in the report be approved.

(ii)                That the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme 2019/20 to 2022/23 and HRA Budget for 2019/20 be agreed.

(iii)              That the mandatory decrease of 1% in Council House rents, equivalent to an average rent reduction of £0.90 a week as required by the Welfare  Reform and Work Act, be implemented.

(iv)              That garage rents be kept at the same level as last year.

(v)                That Sheltered Housing Service charges be kept at the same level as last year.

(vi)              That Sheltered Housing utility charges be increased by 5% (average £0.61 increase per week).

(vii)            That in principle, Right to Buy receipts should be retained to enable continued development and acquisition of new council dwellings.

(viii)          That the revised HRA Business Plan in Appendix B of the report be noted.

Reason for Decision: To bring together all the relevant information to enable Cabinet Members to review, consider and comment upon the Council’s Housing Revenue Account budget before taking the recommendations to February Council.