Issue - meetings

That Cabinet agrees:

1.    To approve the Housing Revenue Account 2024/25 budget for council homes as set out in Table 1.

2.    To approve the HRA 10-year Business Plan for Council Homes (2024/25 – 2033/34) as set out in paragraphs 3 - 4 of this report and Appendices 1 - 4.

3.    To approve a rent increase of 7.7% from 1 April 2024 (in line with September 2023 CPI+1%), which equates to an average weekly increase for tenants of £9.62 in 2024/25.

4.    To approve an increase to shared ownership rents of 7.7% from 1 April 2024 (in line with September 2023 CPI+1%).

5.    To approve changes to tenant service charges to reflect the costs of providing communal services from 1 April 2024, which equate to an average weekly increase for tenants of £3.01in 2024/25.

6.    To approve a reduction to charges for heating and hot water to reflect the costs of provision of the district heating service from 1 April 2024, which equate to an average weekly reduction for tenants and leaseholders on the scheme of £0.41 (communal heating), £1.87 (tenants’ personal heating) and £2.21 (leaseholders’ personal heating) in 2024/25.

7.    To approve an increase to the management fee for temporary on licence properties of 6.7% (in line with September 2023 CPI) from 1 April 2024.

8.    To approve an increase to the rent and service charges for hostels of 7.7% from 1 April 2024 (in line with September 2023 CPI+1%).

9.    To increase garage charges for council tenants, resident leaseholders, and for other customers from April 2024 by 6.7% (in line with September 2023 CPI).

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 6.7% from April 2024 (in line with September 2023 CPI).

12.To approve an increase in the Leasehold After Sale – Home Buy Fees by 6.7% from April 2024 from £217 to £232 (in line with September 2023 CPI).

Councillor Ree Rowan introduced the report setting out the Housing Revenue Account budget proposals for the financial year 2024/25 including changes to rent levels and other charges as well as an updated HRA 10-year Business Plan. This was an important plan to provide certainty and stability for tenants and it included the Council’s plans to build additional new homes and invest in the housing stock.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

That Cabinet agrees:

1.    To approve the Housing Revenue Account 2024/25 budget for council homes as set out in Table 1.

2.    To approve the HRA 10-year Business Plan for Council Homes (2024/25 – 2033/34) as set out in paragraphs 3 - 4 of this report and Appendices 1 - 4.

3.    To approve a rent increase of 7.7% from 1 April 2024 (in line with September 2023 CPI+1%), which equates to an average weekly increase for tenants of £9.62 in 2024/25.

4.    To approve an increase to shared ownership rents of 7.7% from 1 April 2024 (in line with September 2023 CPI+1%).

5.    To approve changes to tenant service charges to reflect the costs of providing communal services from 1 April 2024, which equate to an average weekly increase for tenants of £3.01in 2024/25.

6.    To approve a reduction to charges for heating and hot water to reflect the costs of provision of the district heating service from 1 April 2024, which equate to an average weekly reduction for tenants and leaseholders on the scheme of £0.41 (communal heating), £1.87 (tenants’ personal heating) and £2.21 (leaseholders’ personal heating) in 2024/25.

7.    To approve an increase to the management fee for temporary on licence properties of 6.7% (in line with September 2023 CPI) from 1 April 2024.

8.    To approve an increase to the rent and service charges for hostels of 7.7% from 1 April 2024 (in line with September 2023 CPI+1%).

9.    To increase garage charges for council tenants, resident leaseholders, and for other customers from April 2024 by 6.7% (in line with September 2023 CPI).

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 6.7% from April 2024 (in line with September 2023 CPI).

12.To approve an increase in the Leasehold After Sale – Home Buy Fees by 6.7% from April 2024 from £217 to £232 (in line with September 2023 CPI).