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 £95.09 per week to £94.14 per week;
(ii) Agree the following service charges for tenants:
Service |
Weekly Charge 2018/19 £ |
Increase
£ |
Grounds Maintenance |
2.93 |
- |
Caretaking |
7.65 |
- |
Cleaning |
3.68 |
- |
Estate Lighting |
2.31 |
0.44 |
Concierge (12 hours) |
10.06 |
- |
Concierge (24 hours) |
20.13 |
- |
CCTV (SAMS) |
6.17 |
- |
Safer Neighbourhood Charge |
0.50 |
- |
TV aerials |
0.68 |
0.68 |
(iii) Agree that charges for heating and hot water increase by inflation (2.6%) in 2018/19 as follows:
Property size
|
Average Weekly Charge 2018/19 £ |
Bedsit |
12.84 |
1 Bedroom |
13.62 |
2 Bedroom |
16.35 |
3 Bedroom |
16.64 |
4 Bedroom |
17.08 |
(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 the following rent and services charges for hostel accommodation held in the General Fund, as detailed in paragraphs 2.15 - 2.18 of the report:
|
Charge 2018/19 |
Rent – single room |
£45.00 per night |
Rent – family room |
£50.00 per night |
Service Charge – single room |
£2.00 per night |
Service Charge – family room |
£2.50 per night |
(vi) Note that a Supported Housing Framework shall be developed which would categorise the Council’s four hostel accommodation units as ‘supported accommodation’, thereby minimising the impact of the increases on tenants as a consequence of the Welfare Benefit Cap from April 2018;
(vii) Agree that the above charges take effect from Monday 2 April 2018;
(viii) Agree the proposed HRA Capital Programme for 2018/19 at Appendix 7 to the report;
(ix) Approve the HRA Business Plan for 2018/19 at Appendix 8 and the financial assessment at Appendix 9 to the report;
(x) Note the assumptions underpinning the HRA Business Plan which shall be reviewed annually; and
(xi) Approve the proposed commissioning intentions for 2018/19 set out in Annex 1 to the HRA Business Plan.