Decision details

That Cabinet agrees:

·      To approve the Housing Revenue Account 2021/22 budget for Council homes as set out in Table 1.

·      To approve plans to deliver on-going annual revenue savings of £3.8million per annum from 2021/22 rising to £5.7million per annum from 2024/25 (see Appendix 1).

·      To approve a rent increase of 1.5% (based on the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) at September 2020 plus 1% in line with government policy) from 5 April 2021 which equates to an average weekly increase for tenants of £1.64 in 2021/22.

·      To approve an increase to shared ownership rents of 1.5% (based on the CPI at September 2020 plus 1% in line with government policy) from 5 April 2021.

·      To approve an increase to tenant service charges of 0.5% (based on the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) at September 2020) from 5 April 2021 which equates to an average weekly increase for tenants of £0.04 in 2021/22.

·      To approve an increase to the management fee for temporary on licence properties of CPI (0.5% as at September 2020) from 5 April 2021.

·      To delegate authority to the Strategic Director for Economy in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing to agree the average increase in water charges for homes supplied by a bulk meter.

·      To increase garage charges for council tenants, resident leaseholders and for other customers from April 2021 by 1.5% and to uplift all the 200 accounts that are paying historic prices for their garage rents despite either living in a private property or having left the borough to be in line with standard charges.

·      To note that any change to parking charges on housing estates will be considered in a separate report on the Council’s parking plans.

·      To increase car space rental charges for all customers by 2.2% from April 2021.

·      To approve an increase in the Leasehold After Sale – Home Buy Fees from £160 to £200.