Issue - meetings

The Portfolio Holders for Council Homes and Landlord Services and Corporate Governance, Finance and Resources to submit a report updating Members on the financial position of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), setting the rents of Council dwellings, approving the HRA budget estimates for 2023-24 and setting the working balance for 2023-24.

Cabinet RECOMMENDED to Council:

1)    That the Budget Estimates for 2023-23 be approved.

2)    That an average rent increase of 7.21% for all Council dwellings be approved with effect from 1 April 2023.

3)    That a hardship fund be developed for the benefit of those tenants in need to a maximum of £50k, and for awards granted to be in the form of vouchers.

4)    That the 2023-24 capital programme be approved.

5)    That authority be delegated to the Director for Housing and Communities in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services and the Portfolio Holder for Council Homes and Landlord Services to approve virements within the HRA capital programme during the year to provide flexibility to meet emerging needs and maintain decent homes.

6)    That authority be delegated to the Director for Housing and Communities in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Council Homes and Landlord Services to finalise and implement the policy and criteria for a hardship fund for tenants.

The Director for Corporate Services introduced the report the purpose of which updated Members on the financial position of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), the setting of the rents of the Council dwellings with an average increase of 7.21%, seeking approval for the HRA budget estimates for 2023/24 and setting the working balance for 2023/34 at £1m.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services thanked the Director for Corporate Services for introducing the report. He recognised the hard work of Officers in ensuring that the capital budget had been spent and that tenants realise the benefits of the expenditure via the improvements made to Council homes.

Cabinet RECOMMENDED to Council:

1)    That the Budget Estimates for 2023-23 be approved.

2)    That an average rent increase of 7.21% for all Council dwellings be approved with effect from 1 April 2023.

3)    A hardship fund be developed for the benefit of those tenants in need to a maximum of £50k, and for awards granted to be in the form of vouchers

4)    The 2023-24 capital programme be approved.

5)    That delegated authority be given to the Director for Housing and Communities in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services and Portfolio Holder for Council Homes and Landlord Services to approve virements within the HRA capital programme during the year to provide flexibility to meet emerging needs and maintain decent homes.

6)    That delegated authority be given to the Director for Housing and Communities in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Council Homes and Landlord Services to finalise and implement the policy and criteria for a hardship fund for tenants.

Reason for Recommendations:

The Local Government and Housing Act 1989 requires the Council to produce and publish an annual budget, including the setting of rents, for the HRA which avoids a deficit. This report sets out detail for Cabinet to consider prior to making recommendations to Council. It is a requirement that this be scrutinised prior to its submission which will be undertaken by the Scrutiny Committee in January 2023. The proposed rent increase is in line with the rent ceiling applied by Government. The implementation of a one-off hardship fund is intended to enable additional support to tenants who are experiencing financial hardship.