Issue - meetings

A Report from the Cabinet Member Finance and Housing is attached.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Housingsubmitted a report detailing the proposed Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for 2019/20.   The report is prepared on the basis of the Government’s requirement for a decrease in dwelling rents of 1% for 2019/20 for General Needs and Sheltered/Extra Care properties. Members are reminded that any decrease more than this level would result in a reduction in rental income which will impact on future years and could jeopardise the financial viability of the HRA and the sustainability of the business plan.

              Delegated decisions:

1.   That the report be noted.

2.   That Council be requested to consider all matters relating to the Housing Revenue Account 2019/2020, the increase in Council House and garage rents and changes to other charges.

              Recommendations to Council:      

(a) Approve the Housing Revenue Account estimates   set out in Appendix 1.

(b) Decrease the Rents for all HRA dwellings by 1% from the first rent week in April.

(c) Approve that the first week of 2019/20 be an additional non-collection week as 2019/20 is a 53 week year.

(d) Increase Garage rents by 3.4% from the first rent week in April.

(e) Increase Sheltered Management and Amenity Charges by 3.4% from the first rent week in April.

(f) Approve that sheltered support charges remain unchanged from the first rent week in April.

(g) Reduce sheltered heating charges by between 5% to 15% on an individual scheme basis as set out in section 3.4; reduced charges to apply from the first rent week in April.

(h) Reduce Furnished Tenancy charges by 10% from the first rent week in April.

(i)  Increase pitch fees at the Fernhill Caravan Site by 3.4% from the first rent week in April.

A Report from the Interim Executive Director of Resources and Regulation is attached.

Councillor O’Brien, Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing presented a report providing Members with details of the proposed Housing Revenue Account for 2019/2020 and proposals for Dwelling and Garage rents, Sheltered Support, Management, Amenities and Heating charges, Furnished Tenancy Charges and Fernhill Caravan Site tenancy charges.

It was agreed:

That the contents of the report be noted