Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Social Housing presented a report on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) estimates, rents and other related charges for 2018/19, together with the 30-year HRA Business Plan.

In line with the Government’s social housing rent reforms which required an annual 1% cut over four years starting 2016/17, Council house rents were to reduce by an average of 95p per week in 2019/20.  The Cabinet Member explained that whilst any level of reduction may be welcomed by tenants, the cumulative impact of the Government’s policy was an expected loss of £33.6m investment in the Council’s housing stock over the four-year period. 

The majority of tenant service charges were to remain unchanged for 2019/20 while a service review was undertaken, with the only increase applying to estate lighting to more accurately reflect the full cost of the service.  The Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services suggested that detailed discussions on service charges were needed.

In respect of the 30-year Business Plan, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Social Housing referred to the planned investment in the housing stock over the next couple of years, aimed at ensuring that good quality, affordable housing was available for all income groups throughout the Borough.  On that issue, it was acknowledged that the new Borough-wide stock condition survey would be integral to the development of the plans for estate regeneration and improvements to existing housing.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree that rents for all general needs secure, affordable and sheltered housing accommodation be reduced by 1% in line with the national rent reduction arrangements, from the current average of £94.47 per week to £93.52 per week;

(ii)  Agree the following service charges for tenants:

(iii)  Agree that charges for heating and hot water increase by inflation to the following:

(iv)  Agree that rents for stock used as temporary accommodation continue to be set at 90% of the appropriate Local Housing Allowance (LHA);

(v)  Agree that the above charges take effect from 1 April 2019;

(vi)  Agree the proposed HRA Capital Programme for 2019/20 as set out in Appendix 6 to the report;

(vii)  Approve the HRA Business Plan for 2019/20 as set out in Appendix 7 and the financial implications set out in Appendix 8 to the report; and

(viii)  Note the assumptions underpinning the HRA Business Plan which would be reviewed annually.