Issue - meetings

Report of Chief Finance Officer and Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet members: Councillors Zoe Nicholson and William Meyer

(Key decision):

(1) To adopt Lewes’ HRA 30-Year Business Plan as a basis for operating the future HRA business.

(2) To agree the assumptions underpinning it.

(3) To notes that the plan has been used as the starting point for setting the 2020/21 HRA Revenue Budget and Rents and the HRA Capital Programme 2019-23, which is the next report on the listed agenda.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Finance Officer and the Director of Regeneration and Planning presenting a new Housing Revenue Account (HRA) 30-Year Business Plan covering the years from 2019/20 to 2048/49, describing the assumptions that underpin it and highlighting the changes in approach, policy and aspirations when compared to previous plans.

The Director of Regeneration and Planning commented that the process in producing the proposals was developed in collaboration with the Tenants of Lewes District (TOLD).

In response to a question around an increase in management costs, it was clarified that the new Business Plan would enhance services to HRA tenants and residents. Enhancements would focus on areas that were highlighted by residents during service reviews and general feedback. Areas that could be targeted were anti-social behaviour, multiple complex needs, social inclusion, sheltered housing, customer engagement, fuel poverty and neighbourhood area improvement. It was also anticipated that further support would be provided to those most affected by Universal Credit or suffering from reduced incomes.

Resolved (Key decision):

(1) To adopt Lewes’ HRA 30-Year Business Plan as a basis for operating the future HRA business.

(2) To agree the assumptions underpinning it.

(3) To note that the plan has been used as the starting point for setting the 2020/21 HRA Revenue Budget and Rents and the HRA Capital Programme 2019-23, which is the next report on the listed agenda.

Reason for decisions:

The Council now has an opportunity to increase its HRA stock holding and improve its offer to tenants and leaseholders (both current and future) as a result of the HRA debt cap being lifted and HRA rents increasing each year (with effect from 1st April 2020).