Issue - meetings

The purpose of the report by the Director of Property & Housing and the

Director of Finance & Information Services is to seek the Cabinet Member’s decisions on Council Housing budgets, rents and other charges and to give authority for managers to incur expenditure in 2018/19.

The report also seeks to:

·    Approve the Revised Revenue budgets for 2017/18 and 2018/19 and give authority to the Director of Property and Housing & the Director of Finance and Information Services, to amend the budgets to reflect the latest available information prior to finalising budgets for 2018/19.

·    Note the forecast Revenue Budgets for 2019/20 to 2020/21 arising from the proposals set out in this report 

·    Set rents in accordance with Central Government's social rent setting policy.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member for Housing approve the following:

(i)      All rents and charges to be effective from 1st April 2018 or such other date as determined by the Director of Property and Housing in consultation with the Director of Finance and Information Services.

(ii)     Dwelling rents for 2018/19 to be set as in accordance with Central Government's Social Rent Policy.

(iii)    General Service charges for 2018/19 to be set at this meeting as set out in this report, and in accordance with Appendix 5.

(iv)    Sheltered Housing Service charges for 2018/19 to be set at this meeting as set out in this report, and in accordance with Appendix 6.

(v)     Laundry charges for 2018/19 to be set at this meeting as set out in this report, and in accordance with Appendix 7.

(vi)    Heating charges to be set in accordance with Appendix 8.

(vii)   Garages and parking site rents as shown on Appendix 9 be approved and authority to let garages at reduced rents where demand is low be delegated to the Director of Property and Housing Services in consultation with the Director of Finance and Information Services.

(viii)  Revenue budgets for 2017/18 and 2018/19 as set out in Appendix 3 be approved and authority given to the Director of Property and Housing in consultation with the Director of Finance and Information Services to amend the budgets to reflect the latest available information prior to finalising budgets for 2018/19.

(ix)    The relevant Managers be authorised to incur expenditure in 2018/19.

(x)     The forecast Revenue Budgets for 2019/20 to 2020/21 as set out in Appendix 3 arising from the proposals contained in this report, be noted.

the Cabinet Member for Housing approve the following:

(i)            All rents and charges to be effective from 1st April 2018 or such other date as determined by the Director of Property and Housing in consultation with the Director of Finance and Information Services.

(ii)     Dwelling rents for 2018/19 to be set as in accordance with Central Government's Social Rent Policy (with the rent reduction summarised in Appendix 4).

(iii)    General Service charges for 2018/19 to be set at this meeting as set out in this report, and in accordance with Appendix 5.

(iv)    Sheltered Housing Service charges for 2018/19 to be set at this meeting as set out in this report, and in accordance with Appendix 6.

(v)     Laundry charges for 2018/19 to be set at this meeting as set out in this report, and in accordance with Appendix 7.

(vi)    Heating charges to be set in accordance with Appendix 8.

(vii)  Garages and parking site rents as shown on Appendix 9 be amended so as to

·         Increase all Local and Leigh Park charges by 1%, and

·        Increase all other Non-local parking by 10%

(viii)  Revenue budgets for 2017/18 and 2018/19 as set out in Appendix 3 be approved and authority given to the Director of Property and Housing in consultation with the Director of Finance and Information Services to amend the budgets to reflect the latest available information prior to finalising budgets for 2018/19.

(ix)    The relevant Managers be authorised to incur expenditure in 2018/19.

(x)     The forecast Revenue Budgets for 2019/20 to 2020/21 as set out in Appendix 3 arising from the proposals contained in this report, be noted.

Nick Haverly, Finance Manager, introduced the report on behalf of both the Director of Property & Housing and the Director of Finance & Information Services, setting out proposed rents and service charges, the opportunity for borrowing and the impact of fire safety measures. He referred to the national government policy for rent setting, which meant a 1% reduction for the forthcoming financial year.  Service charges had to be set at a rate to reflect full cost recovery.  In the areas of commercial activity he was proposing a 4% increase to increase income to the Housing Revenue Account. Heating charges were to be frozen for another year.

The proposals had been circulated to tenants and leaseholders via the House Talk publication.  Mr Haverly thanked all the staff involved and the residents for their participation via the Residents' Consortium.  Maria Cole, a member of the Residents' Consortium was present and had attended these meetings.

Councillor Potter was supportive of the recommendations at a time of financial restrictions.

Councillor Stephen Morgan MP had submitted a question regarding the appropriateness of reducing service charges to residents when building work on properties and communal areas were being undertaken.  In response Nick Haverly reported that service charges were not impacted by works to communal areas but that in cases where disruption is experienced, discount on rents can sometimes be offered to affected residents.

Councillor Jennie Brent, as Cabinet Member for Housing, was conscious that the proposed blanket increase of 4% for garages and parking charges did not necessarily reflect demand.  She was aware that demand for parking spaces and garages is already very low in Leigh Park and a 4% increase might actually reduce the number of users and therefore reduce the income received.  There was also a need to encourage those travelling into the city to use the Council's Park and Ride facility.  She was keen to see that those who need a car parking space close to their home are not financially penalised for doing so. Therefore she asked the effect of the charges being amended to:

·         Increase all Local and Leigh Park charges by 1%

·         Increase all other Non-local parking by 10%

Nick Haverly estimated that those changes would increase the parking and garage income by £43,000 per year, compared to the current year. Councillor Brent wished to amend the parking and garage charges in recommendation (vii) in this way, due to the benefit there would be for local tenants, the need to encourage non-local users to use the park and ride facility, and recognising the various parking demand issues.

DECISION -

The Cabinet Member for Housing approved the following:

(i)            All rents and charges to be effective from 1st April 2018 or such other date as determined by the Director of Property and Housing in consultation with the Director of Finance and Information Services.

(ii)     Dwelling rents for 2018/19 to be set as in accordance with Central Government's Social Rent Policy (with the rent reduction summarised in Appendix 4).

(iii)    General Service charges for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5