Issue - meetings

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)

Joint Report of Chief Officer Housing & Property and Chief Officer Resources (report published on 6.2.26)

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Caroline Jackson)

Cabinet received a joint report from the Chief Officer Housing & Property and Chief Officer Resources that sought Cabinet decisions on Council Housing rent setting proposals and HRA revenue and capital budget proposals.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

The options with regards to rent setting are set out under section 4 of the report, the maximum permitted increase being CPI+1% for current tenants, with flexibility of an additional 5% / 10% above formula rent for new tenancies. By applying this increase, it allows for a budget that can deliver on the Council’s and Governments ambitions on improving housing standards and addressing the climate change emergency, whilst adhering to the Rent Standard and wider legislative requirements.

In relation to garage rents, it is recommended that an increase in line with dwelling rent increases is appropriate and will support maintenance requirements without adversely impacting occupancy levels.

With regard to the revenue budget generally, Cabinet could consider other proposals that may influence spending in current and future years, as long as their financing is considered and addressed and coherent with the legislative and regulatory requirements of a Registered Provider.

The options available in respect of the minimum level of HRA balances are to retain the level at £750K in line with the advice of the Section 151 Officer, or adopt a different level. Should Members choose not to accept the advice on the level of balances, then this should be recorded formally in the minutes of the meeting, and it could have implications for the Council’s financial standing, as assessed by its external auditor.

 The options available in respect of the Capital Programme are:

i)               To approve the programme in full, with the financing as set out;

ii)               To incorporate other increases or reductions to the programme, with appropriate sources of funding being identified.

 Any risks attached to the above would depend on measures Members proposed, and their impact on the council housing service and its tenants. As such, a full options analysis could only be undertaken once any alternative proposals are known, and Officers may require more time in order to do this.