Issue - meetings

Cabinet recommended to Council that:

(i)            The rent reductions for individual dwellings as set out in paragraph 13 of the original report to Cabinet are effective from 4 April 2016. This equates to an average weekly rent of £92.66, a statutory reduction of 1%.

(ii)          Any further rent setting measures, per paragraph 14 of the original report to Cabinet, introduced upon Royal Assent of the Welfare Reform and Work Bill 2015, requiring compliance, will be effective from 4 April 2016, and that in the event of a significant change to the approved budget will be reported to a subsequent meeting of Cabinet.

(iii)         Service charges for individual dwellings, as set out in paragraphs 19 to 25 of the original report to Cabinet, effective from 4 April 2016 for tenants and 1 April 2016 for leaseholders. This equates to an average weekly service charge to tenants of £2.05.

(iv)         Heating charges as set out in paragraphs 33 to 39 of the original report to Cabinet, effective from 4 April 2016 for tenants and 1 April 2016 for leaseholders.  Average weekly general needs charges are £7.80 per week (leaseholders £15.94 per week, equivalent) and, for sheltered accommodation, £6.42 per week.

(v)          Garage rents are increased by 5%, to £8.78 per week (for a standard garage) and proportionate increases for other garages, car ports and car spaces, from 4 April 2016, as set out in paragraphs 40 and 41 of the original report to Cabinet.

(vi)         Housing related support charges as set out in paragraphs 26 to 32 and Table 3 of the original report to Cabinet. For service users effective from 1 April 2016.

(vii)        Other charges are increased, as set out in paragraph 42 of the original report to Cabinet, with effect from 1 April 2016.

(viii)      The growth and savings outlined in paragraphs 43 and 44 of the original report to Cabinet in respect of 2016/17 are approved.

(ix)         The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget as set out at Appendix B of the original report to Cabinet is approved.

(x)          A minimum HRA working balance of £2,727,000 at 31 March 2016, rising to £4,327,000 at 1 April 2016, as set out in paragraph 5 and Appendix D of the original report to Cabinet, is agreed.

The Council received a report from the Cabinet proposing a Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2016/17.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner (seconded by Councillor Mike Danvers):

RESOLVED that:

              i.        The rent reductions for individual dwellings as set out in paragraph 13 of the original report to Cabinet are effective from 4 April 2016. This equates to an average weekly rent of £92.66, a statutory reduction of 1%.

            ii.        Any further rent setting measures, per paragraph 14 of the report, introduced upon Royal Assent of the Welfare Reform and Work Bill 2015, requiring compliance, will be effective from 4 April 2016, and that in the event of a significant change to the approved budget will be reported to a subsequent meeting of Cabinet.

           iii.        Service charges for individual dwellings, as set out in paragraphs 19 to 25 of the original report to Cabinet, effective from 4 April 2016 for tenants and 1 April 2016 for leaseholders. This equates to an average weekly service charge to tenants of £2.05.

           iv.        Heating charges as set out in paragraphs 33 to 39 of the original report to Cabinet, effective from 4 April 2016 for tenants and 1 April 2016 for leaseholders.  Average weekly general needs charges are £7.80 per week (leaseholders £15.94 per week, equivalent) and, for sheltered accommodation, £6.42 per week.

            v.        Garage rents are increased by 5%, to £8.78 per week (for a standard garage) and proportionate increases for other garages, car ports and car spaces, from 4 April 2016, as set out in paragraphs 40 and 41 of the report.

           vi.        Housing related support charges as set out in paragraphs 26 to 32 and Table 3 of the report. For service users effective from 1 April 2016.

          vii.        Other charges are increased, as set out in paragraph 42 of the report, with effect from 1 April 2016.

        viii.        The growth and savings outlined in paragraphs 43 and 44 of the report in respect of 2016/17 are approved.

           ix.        The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget as set out at Appendix B of the report is approved.

    x.        A minimum HRA working balance of £2,727,000 at 31 March 2016, rising to £4,327,000 at 1 April 2016, as set out in paragraph 5 and Appendix D of the report, is agreed.

RESOLVED that Cabinet RECOMMENDS to Full Council that:

A     The rent reductions for individual dwellings as set out in paragraph 13 of the report submitted are effective from 4 April 2016. This equates to an average weekly rent of £92.66, a statutory reduction of 1%.

B    Any further rent setting measures, per paragraph 14 of the report submitted, introduced upon Royal Assent of the Welfare Reform and Work Bill 2015, requiring compliance, will be effective from 4 April 2016, and that in the event of a significant change to the approved budget will be reported to a subsequent meeting of Cabinet.

C    Service charges for individual dwellings, as set out in paragraphs 19 to 25 of the report submitted, effective from 4 April 2016 for tenants and 1 April 2016 for leaseholders. This equates to an average weekly service charge to tenants of £2.05.

D    Heating charges as set out in paragraphs 33 to 39 of the report submitted, effective from 4 April 2016 for tenants and 1 April 2016 for leaseholders. Average weekly general needs charges are £7.80 per week (leaseholders £15.94 per week, equivalent) and, for sheltered accommodation, £6.42 per week.

E     Garage rents are increased by 5%, to £8.78 per week (for a standard garage) and proportionate increases for other garages, car ports and car spaces, from 4 April 2016, as set out in paragraphs 40 and 41 of the report submitted.

F     Housing related support charges as set out in paragraphs 26 to 32 and Table 3 of the report submitted. For service users effective from 1 April 2016.

G    Other charges are increased, as set out in paragraph 42 of the report submitted, with effect from 1 April 2016.

H    The growth and savings outlined in paragraphs 43 and 44 of the report submitted in respect of 2016/17 are approved.

I       The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget as set out at Appendix B of the report submitted is approved.

J     A minimum HRA working balance of £2,727,000 at 31 March 2016, rising to £4,327,000 at 1 April 2016, as set out in paragraph 5 and Appendix D of the report submitted, is agreed.

The Cabinet received a report forecasting the outturn budget for the Council’s Housing Revenue Account in the current year, and a proposed budget for the next year, 2016/17.

Further to paragraph 60 from the report submitted, the Leader of the Council asked the Cabinet to note that the Housing Standards Board reviewed the HRA Business Plan, which includes the major HRA Revenue Account Budget proposals, at its meeting on 18 January 2016.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner (seconded by Councillor Mike Danvers) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet RECOMMENDS to Full Council that:

A     The rent reductions for individual dwellings as set out in paragraph 13 of the report submitted are effective from 4 April 2016. This equates to an average weekly rent of £92.66, a statutory reduction of 1%.

B    Any further rent setting measures, per paragraph 14 of the report submitted, introduced upon Royal Assent of the Welfare Reform and Work Bill 2015, requiring compliance, will be effective from 4 April 2016, and that in the event of a significant change to the approved budget will be reported to a subsequent meeting of Cabinet.

C    Service charges for individual dwellings, as set out in paragraphs 19 to 25 of the report submitted, effective from 4 April 2016 for tenants and 1 April 2016 for leaseholders. This equates to an average weekly service charge to tenants of £2.05.

D    Heating charges as set out in paragraphs 33 to 39 of the report submitted, effective from 4 April 2016 for tenants and 1 April 2016 for leaseholders. Average weekly general needs charges are £7.80 per week (leaseholders £15.94 per week, equivalent) and, for sheltered accommodation, £6.42 per week.

E     Garage rents are increased by 5%, to £8.78 per week (for a standard garage) and proportionate increases for other garages, car ports and car spaces, from 4 April 2016, as set out in paragraphs 40 and 41 of the report submitted.

F     Housing related support charges as set out in paragraphs 26 to 32 and Table 3 of the report submitted. For service users effective from 1 April 2016.

G    Other charges are increased, as set out in paragraph 42 of the report submitted, with effect from 1 April 2016.

H    The growth and savings outlined in paragraphs 43 and 44 of the report submitted in respect of 2016/17 are approved.

I       The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget as set out at Appendix B of the report submitted is approved.

J     A minimum HRA working balance of £2,727,000 at 31 March 2016, rising to £4,327,000 at 1 April 2016, as set out in paragraph 5 and Appendix D of the report submitted, is agreed.