Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
The Cabinet will be asked to consider the HRA estimates and rent levels for Council properties for 2024/25, together with service and other related charges, and also to approve the rolling 30-year HRA Business Plan setting out how the Council intends to fund its stock investment, estate regeneration and new build plans.
Cabinet resolved to:
(i) Agree that rents for all general needs secure, affordable and sheltered housing accommodation be increased by 7.7%, in line with the Government’s current rent policy of CPI +1% (with CPI for September 2023 of 6.7% being used as the base), meaning an increase to the average rent for general needs from £108.72 per week to £117.07 per week;
(ii) Agree the following service charges for tenants:
Services |
Weekly Charges 2024/25 |
Increase / (Reduction) |
Basis of Increase |
Grounds Maintenance |
£3.16 |
£0.23 |
CPI+1% |
Caretaking |
£8.03 |
£0.38 |
Cost Recovery |
Cleaning |
£3.86 |
£0.18 |
Cost Recovery |
Estate Lighting |
£4.34 |
nil |
Cost Recovery |
Concierge |
£11.93 |
£0.85 |
CPI+1% |
CCTV (SAMS) |
£7.31 |
£0.52 |
CPI+1% |
Safer Neighbourhood Charge |
£0.60 |
£0.03 |
Cost Recovery |
TV Aerials |
£0.67 |
£0.05 |
CPI+1% |
(iii) Agree that charges for heating and hot water be reduced by 5.5% in line with decreases in the estimated charges for 2024/25 provided by suppliers as follows:
Property size |
Weekly Charges 2023/24 |
Weekly Charge 2024/25 |
Bedsit |
£29.52 |
£27.89 |
1 bedroom |
£31.56 |
£29.82 |
2 bedroom |
£38.21 |
£36.11 |
3 bedroom |
£38.92 |
£36.78 |
4 bedroom |
£39.94 |
£37.74 |
(iv) Note that following the annual review of current charges and insight from the provider, water charges shall increase by 10% while sewerage charges shall remain at the current year’s rates;
(v) Agree the HRA Income and Expenditure budget for 2024/25 and note the changes from the 2023/24 budget, as detailed in section 3 of this report.
(vi) Agree a £24.7m capital programme for the HRA in 2024/25 and note the indicative 4-year HRA capital programme detailed in section 4 of the report;
(vii) Agree that the above charges take effect from 1 April 2024;
(viii) Note the draft HRA 30-year business plan, as detailed in section 2 of the report, and the indicative 30-year financial forecasts set out in Appendices A and B to the report; and
(ix) Note that the final version of the HRA Business Plan shall be presented to Cabinet in March 2024 after a comprehensive review by the Strategic Director, Resources.
Report author: Thomas Hart
Publication date: 24/01/2024
Date of decision: 23/01/2024
Decided at meeting: 23/01/2024 - Cabinet
Effective from: 01/02/2024
Accompanying Documents: