Issue - meetings

To consider the Housing Revenue Account Budget and Capital Expenditure Programme 2018/19.

RESOLVED:

That the proposed planned maintenance and improvement works programme for 2018/19, as set out in Appendix 2 to Report Item 6 to the Cabinet, be approved;

RECOMMENDED:

(a)         That the Housing Revenue Account budget, as set out in Appendix 1 to Report Item 6 to the Cabinet, be agreed;

(b)     That from 02 April 2018, a reduction in rents of 1% from the 2017/18 rent level be agreed, in accordance with Government requirements;

(b)        That no change be made to the service charge for hostel accommodation;

(d)     That no change be made to the service charge for older persons’ accommodation;

(e)     That no change be made to the rent for garages; and

(f)      That a 2018/19 Housing Capital Programme of £18.552m be agreed, as set out in paragraph 6.1 of Report Item 6 to the Cabinet.

The Cabinet considered the Housing Revenue Account budget and housing public sector capital expenditure programme for 2018/19.  The proposed budget had been considered by the Tenant Involvement Group and their comments, in support of the proposals, were set out in paragraph 10 of Report Item 6 to the Cabinet.  The Housing Revenue Account budget was attached as Appendix 1 to the Report.

It was noted that housing rents would be reduced by 1% to an average of £99.03 per week for 2018/19.  This was in accordance with Government requirements.

It was proposed that the service charges for hostels and older persons’ accommodation would not be increased as current charges would comply with the requirement to ensure that relevant costs were fully recovered from the users of the service.  It was also proposed that garage rents would remain unchanged at £10 per week (plus VAT for non-Housing Revenue Account tenants).

The programme of planned maintenance and improvement works, budgeted at £7.472 million, was set out in Appendix 2 to Report Item 6 to the Cabinet.

A summary of income and expenditure for the Housing Revenue Account was set out in sections 3 and 4 of Report Item 6 to the Cabinet.  The Budget would continue to be operated on a break even basis, maintaining a reserve balance of £1 million, with any additional funds being transferred to the Acquisitions and Development reserve.

A summary of the Capital Programme for 2018/19 was set out in section 6 of the report.  There had been a significant loss of properties through the “Right to Buy” system, but the new build and acquisitions programme was delivering new properties, with 19 new properties in 2017/18 and significant progress being made towards construction on 2 sites that would deliver 52 units in 2018/19.

RESOLVED:

That the proposed planned maintenance and improvement works programme for 2018/19, as set out in Appendix 2 to Report Item 6 to the Cabinet, be approved;

RECOMMENDED:

(a)         That the Housing Revenue Account budget, as set out in Appendix 1 to Report Item 6 to the Cabinet, be agreed;

(b)     That from 2 April 2018, a reduction in rents of 1% from the 2017/18 rent level be agreed, in accordance with Government requirements;

(c)     That no change be made to the service charge for hostel accommodation;

(d)     That no change be made to the service charge for older persons’ accommodation;

(e)     That no change be made to the rent for garages; and

(f)      That a 2018/19 Housing Capital Programme of £18.552m be agreed, as set out in paragraph 6.1 of Report Item 6 to the Cabinet.