Issue - meetings

This report sets out the Housing Revenue Account Revenue and Capital Budget for 2019/20 and proposes a decrease in weekly rents and an increase in service charges for 2019/20.

The report set out the Housing Revenue Account Revenue and Capital Budget for 2019/20 and proposed a decrease in weekly rents and an increase in service charges for 2019/20.

The report had also been considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 19 February 2019. Their comments had been circulated to the Cabinet Members at the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Ewart-James,

Seconded by Councillor Dearden; and

RESOLVED:

1.    That report C/18/76 be received and noted.

2.    That Cabinet recommend to Full Council the Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2019/20 (refer to paragraph 2.1 and Appendix 1).

3.    That Cabinet recommend to Full Council the decrease in rents of dwellings within the HRA on average by £0.83 per week, representing a 1.0% decrease with effect from 1 April 2019 (refer to paragraph 3.2).

4.    That Cabinet recommend to Full Council the increase in service charges (refer to section 3.5).

5.    That the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme budget 2019/20 (refer to paragraph 4.1 and Appendix 2) be approved.

(Voting figures: 8 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Local Government Housing Act 1989 requires the Council, as a Local Housing Authority, to keep a separate Housing Revenue Account and to produce estimates to ensure that the account does not go into deficit. The authority also has a duty to set and approve rents in accordance with government guidelines that are outlined in the self-financing determination. The Constitution requires that the annual Budget and any variations to the Budget are approved by Council.