Received a report
suggesting proposals to change the current policy on the letting
and management of Council owned garages following a report to the
Scrutiny Management Board on 25 June 2003 (Minute 12 refers).
Councillor Fairbrass declared an interest in this
item.
Agreed, in
order to reduce the void level for garages by 10% in the next
financial year and to ensure that rental
income is maximised and the repair and cleanliness of garages can
be enhanced, to:
- Introduce a
reduced rental for new garage tenants for a six-month period as an
incentive in areas where garages are difficult to let. Decisions on the setting of introductory rent
charges to be delegated to the Director of Housing and Health in
consultation with the Director of Finance;
- Receive a further
report on the issue of relaxing the policy around garage
usage;
- To the
continuation of garage rental income being ring fenced and being
used for:
a)
The provision of additional security to garage sites.
b)
The demolition of deteriorated sites where this is considered to be
the only viable option.
c)
The continuation of a refurbishment programme, to be delegated to
the Director of Housing and Health in consultation with the
relevant Community Housing Partnership Boards.
- Increase rents in
line with inflation by 19p per week net, which is in line with the
Charging Policy Commission recommendations;
- Set up a cleaning
team to carry out cyclical cleaning of garage sites. The funding of this team to be met from the ring
fenced garage income; and
- The targets set
for the reduction of void garages in the next financial year.