Issue - meetings

The is report sets out the proposed Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan, Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2021/22.

Recommendation

The Executive make the following recommendations to Council, that:

1.    the rent level for Council dwellings be increased by 1.25% from the 20/21 level with effect from 1 April 2021 within the permitted guidelines contained within the Government’s rent setting policy;

2.    the average weekly charge for garages rented by both Council and non-Council tenants be increased by 50 pence per week excluding VAT from 1 April 2021;

3.    the service charges in senior living accommodation be increased by 30 pence per week from 1 April 2021 to £19.80;

4.    the recharge for energy costs in senior living accommodation be increased by 50 pence per week from1 April 2021;

5.    the revised HRA Business Plan for 2021/22 to 2024/25 as set out in Annexe 1 be approved;

6.    the approval change for the fees and charges as set out in Annexe 2 is noted

7.    the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programmes as shown in Annexe 3 be approved;

8.    the financing of the capital programmes be approved in line with the resources shown in Annexe 4.

91.1     The Leader of the Council introduced the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan 2021/22 – 2023/24, including the Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2021/22, and invited the Housing Portfolio Holder, Cllr Rosoman, to present the detailed budget proposals.

91.2     The Leader of the Conservative Group, Cllr Potts, addressed the meeting on behalf of the Principal Opposition Group, who were generally supportive of the proposed business plan and budget.

91.3     The Mayor opened up the debate, and the following Members spoke: Cllrs Follows, Cockburn, Palmer, Goodridge, Townsend, Wilson, Hyman, Merryweather, Williams, Mulliner, and Reed.

91.4     In concluding the debate, the Leader formally moved the recommendations in the report, which were seconded by Cllr Rosoman.

91.5     In accordance with Procedure Rule 17.4, the Mayor called for a recorded vote on the recommendations.

The vote was carried, with votes in favour 53, and none against or abstaining.

91.6     RESOLVED that:

1.      the rent level for Council dwellings be increased by 1.25% from the 20/21 level with effect from 1 April 2021 within the permitted guidelines contained within the Government’s rent setting policy;

2.      the average weekly charge for garages rented by both Council and non-Council tenants be increased by 50 pence per week excluding VAT from 1 April 2021;

3.      the service charges in senior living accommodation be increased by 30 pence per week from 1 April 2021 to £19.80;

4.      the recharge for energy costs in senior living accommodation be increased by 50 pence per week from1 April 2021;

5.      the revised HRA Business Plan for 2021/22 to 2024/25 as set out in Annexe 1 be approved;

6.      the approval change for the fees and charges as set out in Annexe 2 be noted

7.      the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programmes as shown in Annexe 3 be approved;

8.      the financing of the capital programmes be approved in line with the resources shown in Annexe 4.

For: 53

Cllrs Brian Adams, Christine Baker, David Beaman. Roger Blishen, Peter Clark, Carole Cockburn, Richard Cole, Steve Cosser, Martin D’Arcy, Jerome Davidson, Kevin Deanus, Simon Dear, Sally Dickson, Brian Edmonds, Patricia Ellis, David Else, Jenny Else, Paul Follows, Mary Foryszewski, Maxine Gale, Michael Goodridge, John Gray, Joan Heagin, Val Henry, George Hesse, Chris Howard, Dan Hunt, Jerry Hyman, Peter Isherwood, Anna James, Jacquie Keen, Robert Knowles, Andy MacLeod, Penny Marriott, Peter Marriott, Peter Martin, Mark Merryweather, Stephen Mulliner, John Neale, Peter Nicholson, Nick Palmer, Julia Potts, Ruth Reed, Paul Rivers, Penny Rivers, John Robini, Anne-Marie Rosoman, Liz Townsend, John Ward, Michaela Wicks, Steve Williams, and George Wilson.

The is report sets out the proposed Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan, Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2021/22.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive, after considering the comments from the Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee, make the following recommendations to Council, that:

1.    the rent level for Council dwellings be increased by 1.25% from the 20/21 level with effect from 1 April 2021 within the permitted guidelines contained within the Government’s rent setting policy;

2.    the average weekly charge for garages rented by both Council and non-Council tenants be increased by 50 pence per week excluding VAT from 1 April 2021;

3.    the service charges in senior living accommodation be increased by 30 pence per week from 1 April 2021 to £19.80;

4.    the recharge for energy costs in senior living accommodation be increased by 50 pence per week from1 April 2021;

5.    the revised HRA Business Plan for 2021/22 to 2024/25 as set out in Annexe 1 be approved;

6.    the approval change for the fees and charges as set out in Annexe 2 is noted;

7.    the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programmes as shown in Annexe 3 be approved;

8.    the financing of the capital programmes be approved in line with the resources shown in Annexe 4.

70.1    Cllr Anne-Marie Rosoman, Portfolio for Housing and Community Safety, introduced the proposed Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan for 2021/22 – 2023/24. The HRA had a number of drivers, including the cost of servicing the 2012 borrowing to acquire the council’s social housing stock. This borrowing had been taken on the assumption that rents would rise annually with reference to the rate retail price index. However, in 2016 the Conservative government implemented major changes for the HRA finances requiring statutory annual rent reductions of 1% per annum year-on-year for 4 years, and it was only last year that the council was allowed to increase the rent once more.

70.2    It was proposed that the rent increase for 2021/22 be set below the maximum allowed, at 1.25% in order to generate income to fund annual repairs, the core maintenance program and the new build and remodelling capital programme. The Housing Overview & Scrutiny Committee had reviewed the draft HRA Business Plan and endorsed the recommendations set out in the report.

70.3    The Executive RESOLVED to recommend to Council that

1.    the rent level for Council dwellings be increased by 1.25% from the 20/21 level with effect from 1 April 2021 within the permitted guidelines contained within the Government’s rent setting policy;

2.    the average weekly charge for garages rented by both Council and non-Council tenants be increased by 50 pence per week excluding VAT from 1 April 2021;

3.    the service charges in senior living accommodation be increased by 30 pence per week from 1 April 2021 to £19.80;

4.    the recharge for energy costs in senior living accommodation be increased by 50 pence per week from1 April 2021;

5.    the revised HRA Business Plan for 2021/22 to 2024/25 as set out in Annexe 1 be approved;

6.    the approval change for the fees and charges as set out in Annexe 2 is noted;

7.    the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programmes as shown in Annexe 3 be approved;

8.    the financing of the capital programmes be approved in line with the resources shown in Annexe 4.