Decision details
The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget And Rents/Service Charges For 2023/24
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Purpose:
This report sets out the HRA budget proposals
for the financial year 2023/24 including changes to rent levels and
other charges and explains the wider strategic operating
environment facing the HRA.
The Council will optimise the financial position for the HRA in
2023/24 and rents will be increased by 4.4%. Additional investment
(including one-off growth) of £3.5m is planned to support
improvements in customer services, the management of disrepair and
health & safety and supporting tenants through an Annual Visits
Programme.
The 40-year HRA business plan is being updated and reviewed. This
will be reported in detail to the Cabinet in March 2023 and will
set out the medium-term financial position on the HRA.
Decision:
That Cabinet agrees:
1. To approve the Housing Revenue Account 2023/24 budget for council homes as set out in Table 1.
2. To approve £1.1m of ongoing annual revenue savings (when compared to the 2022/23 base budget) per annum from 2023/24.
4. To approve an increase to shared ownership rents of 7% from 3 April 2023.
5. To approve changes to tenant service charges to reflect the costs of providing communal services from 3 April 2023, which equate to an average weekly increase for tenants of 95pin 2023/24.
6. To approve an increase to charges for heating and hot water to reflect the costs of provision of the district heating service from 3 April 2023, which equate to an average weekly increase for tenants and leaseholders on the scheme of £2.75 (communal heating), £10.90 (tenants’ personal heating) and £13.78 (leaseholders’ personal heating) in 2023/24.
7. To approve an increase to the management fee for temporary on licence properties of 7% from 3 April 2023.
8. To approve an increase to the rent and service charges for hostels of 7% from 3 April 2023.
9. To increase garage charges for council tenants, resident leaseholders, and for other customers from April 2023 by 7%.
10.To note that any change to parking charges on housing estates will be considered separately with the Council’s parking plans.
11.To increase car space rental charges for all customers by 7% from April 2023.
12.To approve an increase in the Leasehold After Sale – Home Buy Fees by 7% from April 2023 from £203 to £217.
Report author: Danny Rochford
Publication date: 07/02/2023
Date of decision: 06/02/2023
Decided at meeting: 06/02/2023 - Cabinet
Effective from: 11/02/2023
Accompanying Documents:
PDF 412 KB