Issue - meetings

Report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

Councillors N Rushton and R Bayliss presented the report. The report asked Cabinet to agree the Housing Revenue Account Budget proposals for 2021/22 for statutory consultation, before final approval by Cabinet and Council in February 2021.

Key features included:

• The draft budget showed a projected surplus of £229,000 surplus.
• The proposal to increases rents by 1.5% in line the Government’s National Rent Increase Policy, equating to average increase of £1.66 a week.
• A new Tenancy Support Officer role as part of a new approach to supporting tenants in managing arrears.
• The passing on of savings in service charges to tenants for services such as grounds maintenance that were unable to be carried out due to the first COVID-19 lockdown.
• A £3.7 million transfer to the capital programme to support acquisition, build and maintenance of new and existing council homes.
• The Housing Revenue Account continued to have adequate reserves and continued to maintain the £13 million set aside for the redemption of self-financing loans, which were due for repayment in March 2022.

Following queries by Members, the Head of Finance advised that the £13 million set aside for redemption of self-financing loans left £58 million outstanding of the original £71.7 million.

It was moved by Councillor N Rushton, seconded by Councillor R Bayliss and

RESOLVED THAT CABINET

1)    Note the Assurance Statement by the Section 151 Officer; and

2)    Approve the Draft HRA Budget Proposal, including the 1.5% rent increase, as detailed in the report and associated appendices for consultation.

Reason for decision: Required to enable officers to consult with tenants on the changes to the HRA budgets.