Decision details

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan and HRA Budget 2017/18

Decision Maker: Co-operative Executive

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Purpose:

The report provides an update on the HRA Business Plan and proposes the HRA budget, rent and charges for 2017/18.

Decision:

9.1

The Executive Director, Communities submitted a report providing the 2017/18 update of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan.

 

 

9.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet recommends to the meeting of the City Council on 1 February 2017 that:-

 

 

 

(a)

The HRA Business Plan report for 2017/18 as set out in appendix A to the report is approved;

 

 

 

 

(b)

the HRA Revenue Budget 2017/18 as set out in appendix B to the report is approved;

 

 

 

 

(c)

Rents for council dwellings including temporary accommodation are reduced by 1% from April 2017 in line with the requirements in the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016;

 

 

 

 

(d)

from 2017/18, garage rents will change to a single rate for garage plots and a single rate for garage sites. Once implemented this will apply to new garage tenants immediately and to existing garage tenants once improvements have been made to existing sites and plots;

 

 

 

 

(e)

the community heating unit charge for tenants who receive metered heating is reduced by 10% from April 2017. Community heating charges for those tenants receiving unmetered heating will remain unchanged from April 2017;

 

 

 

 

(f)

following the review of sheltered housing service charges in 2015, as approved by the Cabinet Member for Housing, and work undertaken on future charging for communal heating in sheltered schemes as reported to the Cabinet Member, the existing weekly charge of £14.89 will be amended to £15.54 to recover the cost for communal heating in sheltered schemes;

 

 

 

 

(g)

burglar alarm charges are to remain unchanged from April 2017;

 

 

 

 

(h)

charges for furnished accommodation are to remain unchanged from April 2017; and

 

 

 

9.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

9.3.1

To optimise the number of good quality affordable council homes in the city.

 

 

9.3.2

To maximise the financial resources to deliver key outcomes for tenants and the city in the context of a self-financing funding regime.

 

 

9.3.3

To ensure that tenants’ homes continue to be well maintained and to optimise investment in estates.

 

 

9.3.4

To assure the long term sustainability of council housing in Sheffield.

 

 

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

9.4.1

The stock increase programme as agreed in last year’s business plan is a combination of new/replacement council housing with an emphasis on acquisitions. The option to continue with a profile geared towards acquisitions was considered but rejected as it no longer provides the mix of housing that we need.

 

 

9.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

 

 

 

None

 

 

9.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

 

 

 

None

 

 

9.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

 

 

 

Laraine Manley, Executive Director, Communities

 

 

9.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

 

 

 

Safer and Stronger Communities

 

Report author: Louise Cassin

Publication date: 23/01/2017

Date of decision: 18/01/2017

Decided at meeting: 18/01/2017 - Co-operative Executive

Accompanying Documents: