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 6 February 2023, Cabinet considered Paper BCa/22/40, the Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2023/24. Paper BC/22/42 includes all relevant updated information and includes the necessary recommendations.
Minutes:
69.1 The Chair invited Councillor Busby – Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets & Investments to introduce report BC/22/42.
69.2 Councillor Busby detailed the purpose of the report and PROPOSED the recommendations contained within the report, which was SECONDED by Councillor J. Osborne.
69.3 Councillor Jamieson asked how much rent increases would impact the poorest residents on Universal Credit and housing benefits.
69.4 The Director for Housing would provide a detailed emailed response outside of the meeting.
69.5 Councillor J. Osborne commented that 68% of the HRA residents are on housing benefits but that it is scaled dependent on the income of the resident. Additionally, Councillor J. Osborne offered for the information to be an addendum to the minutes when available.
69.6 Councillor Beer asked what the current market rent was for an average three-bed council house before and after the 7th April increase.
69.7 Councillor J. Osborne explained the average private rent is £875 per month, and that after the increase, social rent will average at £452 per month with variability due to bedroom number, and affordable rent will be £596 per month.
69.8 Councillors debated the matter. It was acknowledged that the increase was regrettable especially due to the crisis of living backdrop, yet it was reasoned as critical to the viability and continuation of the service. Further action was implored towards resolving the backlog in building services. Regulatory compliance and self-referral matters arose and were echoed to be transparent with progression despite access issues. Concern was raised about the quality of building reparations received by residents, but confidence was afforded to the new team to deliver.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, the vote was recorded as follows:
For |
Against |
Abstain |
Clive Arthey |
Peter Beer |
Sian Dawson |
Susan Ayres |
|
Alison Owen |
Melanie Barrett |
|
|
Simon Barrett |
|
|
David Busby |
|
|
Derek Davis |
|
|
Kathryn Grandon |
|
|
John Hinton |
|
|
Alistair McCraw |
|
|
John Nunn |
|
|
Adrian Osborne |
|
|
Jan Osborne |
|
|
Lee Parker |
|
|
Stephen Plumb |
|
|
John Ward |
|
|
Mick Fraser |
|
|
Mary McLaren |
|
|
Robert Lindsay |
|
|
Leigh Jamieson |
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL 19 |
TOTAL 1 |
TOTAL 2 |
By 19 votes for, 1 against and 2 abstentions,
It was RESOLVED:
1.1 That the HRA Budget proposals for 2023/24 set out in this report, be approved.
1.2 That an increase of 7% for council house rents, equivalent to an average rent increase of £6.68 for social rent and £9.41 for affordable rent, a week be implemented.
1.3 That the CPI increase of 10.1% in garage rents, equivalent to an average rent increase of £4.86 or £4.91 (private rental), a month be implemented.
1.4 That an increase of 7% for sheltered housing service charges, equivalent to £12.19 a month, be implemented.
1.5 That an increase for sheltered housing utility charges, equivalent to £7.42 a month (8% for heating and 11% for water), be implemented, following no utility increase for 3 years (since 2019/20).
1.6 That in principle, Right to Buy (RTB) receipts should be retained within the Housing Revenue Account, to enable continued development and acquisition of new council dwellings.
The meeting was adjourned between 6.59pm and 7.08pm.
Supporting documents: