Decision details

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Recommended to Full Council that it:

                             i)        Notes the balanced HRA budget proposals for 2025/26 which include a sustainable 30-year HRA Business Plan, increased investment to meet fully the requirements of the regulatory landscape and improve service provision, and significant investment to deliver the council’s corporate mission to Transform Harlow’s Housing.

                            ii)       Approves the HRA estimates as set out in Appendix A to the report.

                          iii)       Approves that tenant rents are increased by 2.7 percent with effect from 1 April 2025. This equates to an average weekly rent of £115.23 an increase of £3.03 as set out in paragraph 13 to 16 of the report.

                          iv)        Approves that the rents and personal charges for temporary accommodation are increased with effect from 1 April 2025 as set out in paragraph 17 to 19 of the report.

                           v)       Approves that garage rents within the ‘Retain and Invest’ category and related charges are increased by 5 percent with effect from 1 April 2025 as set out in paragraph 20 to 23 of the report. This equates to an average weekly rent of £13.62, an increase of £0.65.

                          vi)        Approves that tenant service charges are increased to recover full cost with effect from 1 April 2025 as set out in paragraphs 24 to 28 of the report and Appendix C to the report.

                         vii)       Approves that the leasehold service charges are increased with effect from 1 April 2025 to ensure that all leaseholder costs are recovered as set out in paragraphs 29 to 33 of the report and Appendix C of the report.

                       viii)       Approves that all other tenant charges are increased with effect from 1 April 2025 in order to recover cost as set out in Appendix C of the report.

                          ix)        Approves the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan 2024-54, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

B     Granted delegated authority to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make minor and inconsequential amendments prior to the publication of the Full Council agenda.