Cabinet Member for Finance
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, immediately after any vote is taken at a budget decision meeting of the Council the names of Councillors who cast a vote for the decision or against the decision or who abstained from voting shall be recorded in the Minutes of that meeting.
At its meeting on 7 February 2022, Cabinet considered Paper BCa/21/36, the Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2022/23. Paper BC/21/32 is unchanged from the Cabinet meeting and includes the necessary recommendations.
Minutes:
92.1 Councillor Simon Barrett introduced report BC/21/32 and Proposed the recommendations contained the report.
92.2 Councillor Ward asked for clarification of the increase of properties assumed in paragraph 4.16 of the report, as compared to previous years the figure seemed low.
92.3 Councillor Ward also enquired if there was confidence that no right to buy receipts would have to be repaid.
92.4 Councillor Jan Osborne replied that there was an overspend of the right to buy receipts so no monies would be repaid.
92.5 The Assistant Director for Housing clarified that the number quoted in paragraph 4.16 was in addition to the existing programme and it was expected that there would be more than 200 social or affordable rent new homes in the next 3 years.
92.6 Councillor Maybury asked for clarification of the right to buy figures quoted by Councillor Jan Osborne.
92.7 The Assistant Director – Corporate Resources, who supplied the figures to Councillor Jan Osborne stated that she would supply clarification to Councillor Maybury outside of the meeting.
92.8 Councillor Beer asked if the percentage of tenants who would pay the proposed increase could be confirmed.
92.9 Councillor Simon Barrett replied that 49% of tenants received benefits and would not pay the increase but the percentage would likely be higher due to tenants receiving universal credit.
92.10 Councillor Hurren asked for clarification on the depreciation charge described in paragraph 4.16 on page 84.
92.11 Councillor Simon Barrett replied that the depreciation charge to the housing stock was required due to regulations but does not affect the day to day workings of the HRA.
92.12 Councillor Hurren also asked for details on the area in Boxford identified for development as stated in paragraph 4.24.
92.13 The Chief Executive suggested that the houses referred to were houses to be acquired under Section 106.
92.14 Councillor Hurren questioned if these homes should have been included in the report if they related to a planning application that had not yet been passed.
92.15 Councillor Jamieson asked if the retrofit programme was referred to in the report.
92.16 Councillor Jan Osborne replied that the retrofit programme was included in the planned maintenance figures.
92.17 Councillor Hinton asked why Babergh appeared to have higher socials rents compared to other authorities and would this increase the number of tenants falling into arrears or relying on benefits.
92.18 The Assistant Director for Housing informed the council that there were some key principles set out by Government under Social Rent Policy in relation to setting social rents including the condition and location of the property, local earnings and property size.
92.19 Councillor McLaren asked if a cost was known for the 85 air source heat pumps that had been installed and whether the benefits were being evaluated.
92.20 The Assistant Director for Housing replied that there was a programme to install more air source heat pumps and a variety of factors were taken into account when looking for suitable accommodation to install them.
92.21 Councillor Maybury asked if any additional resource was being provided to assist people who were struggling to pay their rents and queried if it would have been better to increase utility charges for sheltered accommodation rather than increasing rents.
92.22 The Assistant Director for Housing gave assurance that there was a comprehensive tenancy support service already in place and there was no need to increase utility charges for sheltered housing with communal facilities as sufficient monies had already been collected to cover the costs.
92.23 Councillor Ward began the debate stating his agreement to the recommendations in the report and commending the information contained within the report for being clearer than in past reports.
92.24 The recommendations were Seconded by Councillor Jan Osborne.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, the vote was recorded as follows:
For |
Against |
Abstain |
Clive Arthey |
|
|
Sue Ayres |
|
|
Peter Beer |
|
|
Melanie Barrett |
|
|
Simon Barrett |
|
|
David Busby |
|
|
|
Trevor Cresswell |
|
Sian Dawson |
|
|
Mick Fraser |
|
|
Jane Gould |
|
|
|
John Hinton |
|
|
|
Bryn Hurren |
Leigh Jamieson |
|
|
Robert Lindsay |
|
|
Mary McLaren |
|
|
Elisabeth Malvisi |
|
|
|
|
Margaret Maybury |
Mark Newman |
|
|
Zachary Norman |
|
|
Adrian Osborne |
|
|
Jan Osborne |
|
|
|
Alison Owen |
|
Lee Parker |
|
|
John Ward |
|
|
TOTAL 19 |
TOTAL 3 |
TOTAL 2 |
By 19 votes for, 3 votes against and 2 abstentions.
It was RESOLVED:-
1.1 That the HRA Budget proposals for 2022/23 set out in the report be endorsed for recommendation to Council on 21 February 2022.
1.2 That the CPI + 1% increase of 4.1% in Council House rents, equivalent to an average rent increase of £3.72 a week for social rents and £5.23 a week for affordable rents be implemented.
1.3 That garage rents are kept at the same level as 2021/22.
1.4 That Sheltered Housing service charges are kept at the same level as 2021/22.
1.5 That Sheltered Housing utility charges are kept at the same level as 2021/22.
1.6 That the budgeted surplus of £511k be transferred to the Strategic Priorities reserve in 2022/23.
1.7 That in principle, Right to Buy (RTB) receipts should be retained to enable continued development and acquisition of new council dwellings.
Supporting documents: