Decision details

RESOLVED that it was recommended to Full Council to:

A     Approve the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) estimates as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

B    Approve a working balance of £4.563 million for the HRA (set out in paragraph 26 of the report).

C    Approve that tenant rents are increased by Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 1 per cent (4.1 per cent) with effect from 4 April 2022.  This equates to an average weekly rent of £97.49, an increase of £3.87 (set out in paragraph 3 of the report).

D    Approve that the rents and personal charges for temporary accommodation are increased with effect from 4 April 2022 as set out in paragraph 4 of the report.

E     Approve that garage rents within the ‘retain and invest’ category are increased by 5 per cent with effect from 1 April 2022.  This equates to an average weekly rent of £11.76, an increase of £0.56.  Also approve the proportionate increases for other garages, car ports and car spaces (set out in paragraph 5 of the report).

F     Approve that tenant service charges are increased to recover full cost with effect from 4 April 2022 (see paragraphs 6 to 8 of the report and Appendix 2 attached to the report).

G    Approve that other housing related support charges for sheltered accommodation are increased to recover full cost with effect from 4 April 2022 (see paragraphs 9 to 13 of the report and Appendix 2 attached to the report).

H    Approve the tenant heating charges with effect from 4 April 2022. These equate to an average weekly heating charge of £10.96, an increase of £1.23. For tenants in sheltered accommodation, this equates to an average weekly charge of £6.75, an increase £1.68 (see paragraphs 14 to 16 of the report and Appendix 2 attached to the report).

I       Approve that the leasehold service charges are increased with effect from 1 April 2022 to ensure that all leaseholder costs are recovered (see paragraphs 17 to 21 of the report and Appendix 2 attached to the report).

J     Approve that all other tenant charges are increased with effect from 4 April 2022 in order to recover cost (see Appendix 2 attached to the report).

K    Approve that Harlow’s Rent Policy is reviewed during 2022/23 with a view to moving towards the National Social Housing Rents Standard (2019) for when properties become empty and for types of rent to be charged on newly acquired or newly built properties (see paragraphs 42 to 44 of the report).

L     Approve the options for tackling homelessness and prevention as outlined in paragraphs 45 to 48 of the report.