Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Housing

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the report to members, drawing their attention to the budget proposals set out at Appendix A.  He referred to successfully maintaining services whilst there was the ongoing 1% decrease in rental income and the projected surplus for the current year of £338,000 against a budgeted outturn position of £142,000 surplus. 

In response to a question from Councillor R Blunt, the Housing Portfolio Holder advised that the loan repayment provision was ahead of targets to repay the maturity loans, the first of which was due for repayment in 2022.  He referred to the matrix at Appendix D.  The Deputy Section 151 Officer explained that the level of interest paid on the loans would depend on the loan type and the duration of the term, but would be lower for annuity loans and higher for maturity loans.

Councillor N J Rushton congratulated the officers involved on the reductions in debt at the same time that rents were falling.

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

RESOLVED THAT:

The assurance statement by the Deputy Section 151 Officer be noted,

Cabinet recommend to Council:

a)    The decrease in council house rents for 2018/19 by 1% be approved (average of 79 pence per week).

b)    The increase of 3.9% (25 pence per week) in garage rents for 2018/19 be approved.

c)    Central heating charges for 2018/19 remain at the same level as for 2017/18.

d)    The average increase of 0.40%% (1.6 pence per week) in service charge for 2018/19 be approved.

e)    The ground rent increase at Appleby Magna caravan site of 3.9% (£2.04 per week) on the anniversary of each individual rent agreement in 2018/19 be approved.

f)     The Lifeline charges for private customers be maintained at the 2017/18 level and increased by 3.9% for registered provider customers from April 2018.

Reason for decision: To enable the Council to set a balanced Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2018/19.