Decision details

1          To endorse the revised long term 40 Year Financial Plan for Council Homes as set out in paragraphs 4.18 – 4.21 of this report.

2          To approve the Housing Revenue Account 2017/18 budget for Council homes as set out in Appendix 1.

3          To note the 1% reduction in rents in accordance with the Government’s requirement that social housing rents are reduced by 1% each year for four years from April 2016.

4          To approve a freeze in tenant service charges.

5          To endorse the HRA Medium Term Financial Strategy which plans to deliver further on-going annual revenue savings of £0.4million per annum by 2017/18, rising to £1.6million per annum by 2021/22, with savings coming principally from back office costs.

6          To note that the water regulator OFWAT is not due to confirm the increase in tenants’ water charges until January 2017, and therefore to delegate authority to the Director of Finance & Resources (Housing & Regeneration) to agree the average increase in water charge.

7          To approve a freeze in the communal heating charges.

8          To freeze the rates for parking charges on council estates.

9          To freeze garage charges for tenants and resident leaseholders and to approve an increase for other garage charges of 1% (in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) as at September 2016).

10        To note the risks outlined in paragraphs 4.10 to 4.13 and Appendix 6 of this report.