Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED to Council: -

(a)  That revenue budgets for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26 to 2028/29 are set using the following principles:

i.      That dwelling rents are increased by 7.7 per cent (CPI for September 2023 + 1 per cent) from 1 April 2024 in line with the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Policy statement on rents for social housing published in February 2019 (Rent Policy Statement).

ii.     That garage, garage bases and parking plot rental charges are increased by 7.7% from 1 April 2024.

iii.    That leasehold services are charged to leaseholders in line with actual costs incurred.

iv.    That shared ownership dwelling rents are increased in line with lease terms.

v.     That the changes to services charges are agreed as set out in appendix 2.

vi.    That the bad debt provision is set at £0.4 million.

vii.   That the depreciation budget is set at £12.4 million.

viii.  That HRA reserves are maintained at a minimum level of 5 per cent of total expenditure in line with good practice at £2.2 million.

(b)  That capital budgets for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26 to 2028/29 are set using the following principles.

i.      That the planned maintenance programme as set out in Appendix 5 is agreed.

ii.     That the major project capital programme as set out in Appendix 6 is noted.

iii.    That the 2024/25 budgets of £0.4 million for feasibility works and £3 million for the acquisition of individual properties (Acquire and Repair) are approved.

(c)  The HRA Delivery Plan is approved as set out in appendix 7.

Cllr T Trent and Cllr J Bagwell declared a pecuniary interest as they were subject to proposed increases to garage rental prices and left the room for the duration of the item.

Councillor K Wilson presented the report and recommendations as set out on the agenda.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor M Cox.

Council moved to a vote where the motion as follows was carried.

RESOLVED that Council: -

(a)       That revenue budgets for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26 to 2028/29 are set using the following principles:

i.         That dwelling rents are increased by 7.7 per cent (CPI for September 2023 + 1 per cent) from 1 April 2024 in line with the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Policy statement on rents for social housing published in February 2019 (Rent Policy Statement).

ii.       That garage, garage bases and parking plot rental charges are increased by 7.7% from 1 April 2024.

iii.     That leasehold services are charged to leaseholders in line with actual costs incurred.

iv.     That shared ownership dwelling rents are increased in line with lease terms.

v.       That the changes to services charges are agreed as set out in appendix 2.

vi.     That the bad debt provision is set at £0.4 million.

vii.    That the depreciation budget is set at £12.4 million.

viii.  That HRA reserves are maintained at a minimum level of 5 percent of total expenditure in line with good practice at £2.2million

(b)       That capital budgets for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26 to2028/29 are set using the following principles:

i.        That the planned maintenance programme as set out in Appendix 5 is agreed.

ii.      That the major project capital programme as set out in Appendix 6 is noted.

iii.    That the 2024/25 budgets of £0.4 million for feasibility works and £3 million for the acquisition of individual properties(Acquire and Repair) are approved.

(c)       The HRA Delivery Plan is approved as set out in appendix 7.

Voting: Nem.Con.

The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is a separate account within the council’s budgets that ring-fences the income and expenditure associated with council housing. 

It sets out the proposals regarding increases to rents, service charges and other charges to tenants and leaseholders. Arrangements for these increases are separate to arrangements for increasing fees elsewhere in the council and are set out in law and regulation. The report also sets out plans for expenditure on services to residents, repairs and improvements to homes and the provision of new homes.

The major changes in building safety and regulation of social housing following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 are now being implemented. These changes are significant and this report sets out the requirements that the council must meet.

This report also demonstrates how council housing and spending within the HRA supports the council’s corporate strategy and objectives.

It is RECOMMENDED to Council: -

(a)           That revenue budgets for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26 to 2028/29 are set using the following principles:

                         i.           That dwelling rents are increased by 7.7 per cent (CPI for September 2023 + 1 per cent) from 1 April 2024 in line with the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Policy statement on rents for social housing published in February 2019 (Rent Policy Statement).

                        ii.           That garage, garage bases and parking plot rental charges are increased by 7.7% from 1 April 2024.

                      iii.           That leasehold services are charged to leaseholders in line ith actual costs incurred.

                      iv.           That shared ownership dwelling rents are increased in line with lease terms.

                        v.           That the changes to services charges are agreed as set out in appendix 2.

                      vi.           That the bad debt provision is set at £0.4 million.

                    vii.           That the depreciation budget is set at £12.4 million.

                   viii.           That HRA reserves are maintained at a minimum level of 5 per cent of total expenditure in line with good practice at £2.2 million.

(b)           That capital budgets for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26 to 2028/29 are set using the following principles.

                         i.           That the planned maintenance programme as set out in Appendix 5 is agreed.

                        ii.           That the major project capital programme as set out in Appendix 6 is noted.

                      iii.           That the 2024/25 budgets of £0.4 million for feasibility works and £3 million for the acquisition of individual properties (Acquire and Repair) are approved.

(c)           The HRA Delivery Plan is approved as set out in appendix 7.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Housing and Regulatory Services

Reason

HRA rents and other changes along with the HRA Capital Programme are subject to review and require Cabinet and Council approval for rents and charges to be levied.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was informed that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is a separate account within the council’s budgets that ring-fences the income and expenditure associated with council housing, and that it sets out the proposals regarding increases to rents, service charges and other charges to tenants and leaseholders.

Cabinet was advised that arrangements for these increases are separate to arrangements for increasing fees elsewhere in the council and are set out in law and regulation.

Cabinet was informed that the report also set out plans for expenditure on services to residents, repairs and improvements to homes and the provision of new homes.

Further to this Cabinet was advised that the major changes in building safety and regulation of social housing following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 are now being implemented, and that these changes were significant and the report set out the requirements that the council must meet.

In addition, Cabinet was advised that this report also demonstrated how council housing and spending within the HRA supports the council’s corporate strategy and objectives.

RECOMMENDED to Council: -

(a)           That revenue budgets for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26 to 2028/29 are set using the following principles:

(i)            That dwelling rents are increased by 7.7 per cent (CPI for September 2023 + 1 per cent) from 1 April 2024 in line with the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Policy statement on rents for social housing published in February 2019 (Rent Policy Statement).

(ii)          That garage, garage bases and parking plot rental charges are increased by 7.7% from 1 April 2024.

(iii)         That leasehold services are charged to leaseholders in line with actual costs incurred.

(iv)         That shared ownership dwelling rents are increased in line with lease terms.

(v)          That the changes to services charges are agreed as set out in appendix 2.

(vi)         That the bad debt provision is set at £0.4 million.

(vii)       That the depreciation budget is set at £12.4 million.

(viii)     That HRA reserves are maintained at a minimum level of 5 per cent of total expenditure in line with good practice at £2.2 million.

(b)           That capital budgets for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26 to 2028/29 are set using the following principles.

(i)            That the planned maintenance programme as set out in Appendix 5 is agreed.

(ii)           That the major project capital programme as set out in Appendix 6 is noted.

(iii)         That the 2024/25 budgets of £0.4 million for feasibility works and £3 million for the acquisition of individual properties (Acquire and Repair) are approved.

(c)           The HRA Delivery Plan is approved as set out in appendix 7.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Housing and Regulatory Services

Reason

HRA rents and other changes along with the HRA Capital Programme are subject to review and require Cabinet and Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98