Issue - meetings

Report of Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Service Delivery

Lead Cabinet members: Councillors Gill Mattock and Alan Shuttleworth

(BPF) Full council recommended to approve:

 (1) The HRA budget for 2018/19 and revised 2017/19 as set out at appendix 1 to the report. (2) That social and affordable rents (including shared ownership) are decreased by 1% in line with government policy. (3) That service charges for general needs properties are increased by 5.14%. (4) That service charges for the older persons sheltered accommodation are increased by 1.78%. (5) That the support charge for sheltered housing residents remains at £7.50 per unit, per week pending a review in the summer. (6) To give delegated authority to the Director of Service Delivery, in consultation with the Cabinet portfolio holders for Financial Services and Direct Assistance Services to set the support charge for sheltered housing residents following a review of costs in the summer. (7) That heating costs are set at a level designed to recover the estimated actual cost. (8) That water charges are set at a level designed to recover the estimated cost of metered consumption. (9) Garage rents are increased by 4% this year following the disposal and repurposing of designated garage sites. (10) To give delegated authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio holders for Financial Services and Direct Assistance Services and the Head of Finance to finalise Eastbourne Homes’ Management Fee and Delivery Plan. (11) The HRA capital programme as set out at appendix 2 to the report.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Chief Finance Officer) and Director of Service Delivery regarding the housing revenue account (HRA) budget proposals, rent levels, service charges and heating costs for 2018/19, and the HRA capital programme for 2017/2021.

The HRA had a requirement to be self-financing, meaning that expenditure had to be supported from rental and other income.

Councillor Shuttleworth added that there was still uncertainty over the government’s levy on the sale potential of HRA ‘high value properties’. The necessary regulations had yet to be issued and it was expected that councils would now not have to pay the levy until April 2019. The government had not however given any indication that the levy would be abandoned.

Resolved (budget and policy framework):

That full council, at their meeting on 21 February 2018, be recommended to approve the following:

(1) The HRA budget for 2018/19 and revised 2017/19 as set out at appendix 1 to the report.

(2) That social and affordable rents (including shared ownership) are decreased by 1% in line with government policy.

(3) That service charges for general needs properties are increased by 5.14%.

(4) That service charges for the older persons sheltered accommodation are increased by 1.78%.

(5) That the support charge for sheltered housing residents remains at £7.50 per unit, per week pending a review in the summer.

(6) To give delegated authority to the Director of Service Delivery, in consultation with the Cabinet portfolio holders for Financial Services and Direct Assistance Services to set the support charge for sheltered housing residents following a review of costs in the summer.

(7) That heating costs are set at a level designed to recover the estimated actual cost.

(8) That water charges are set at a level designed to recover the estimated cost of metered consumption.

(9) Garage rents are increased by 4% this year following the disposal and repurposing of designated garage sites.

(10) To give delegated authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio holders for Financial Services and Direct Assistance Services and the Head of Finance to finalise Eastbourne Homes’ Management Fee and Delivery Plan.

(11) The HRA capital programme as set out at appendix 2 to the report.

Reason for decision:

The Cabinet has to recommend to Full Council the setting of the HRA revenue and capital budget and the level of social and affordable housing rents for the forthcoming year.