Decision details

The Cabinet will be asked to consider the HRA estimates and rent levels for Council properties for 2016/17, together with service and other related charges, to enable the delivery of efficient and effective services to the Council’s tenants and leaseholders for the forthcoming financial year.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Approve the Housing Revenue Account estimates for 2016/17 as detailed in Appendix 6 to the report;

(ii)  Approve an overall average Council dwelling rent reduction of 1.0%, equivalent to £0.96 per week, to apply to all Council stock including affordable rent properties;

(iii)  Agree to increase tenant service charges by an average of £2.84 per week;

(iv)  Agree that service charges be reviewed in respect of properties benefiting from amenity green space;

(v)  Agree to maintain communal heating and hot water charges at the current rate (in line with static energy prices) and to the introduction of a new tariff, based on actual costs incurred, during the course of 2016/17;

(vi)  Agree to increase garage rents by £3 per week (from £12 to £15 per week) for garages that had been refurbished to an appropriate standard and to apply the new charge following refurbishment works throughout the year;

(vii)  Agree that estate located parking spaces / bays be reviewed as part of the Council’s parking review;

(viii)  Agree to extend the Safer Neighbourhood charge (50p per week) to all Council tenants that benefit from the service; and

(ix)  Agree that the above changes take effect from 4 April 2016.