Agenda item

6.1

It was moved by Councillor Jayne Dunn, seconded by Councillor Tony Downing, that the following recommendations made by the Cabinet at its meeting on 17^th January 2018 in relation to the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan and Budget 2018/19, be approved:-

“RESOLVED: That Cabinet recommends to the meeting of the City Council on 7 February 2018 that:-

(a)       the HRA Business Plan report for 2018/19 as set out in the appendix to the report is approved;

(b)       the HRA Revenue Budget 2018/19 as set out in the appendix to the report is approved;

(c)        rents for council dwellings, including temporary accommodation, are reduced by 1% from April 2018 in line with the requirements in the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016;

(d)       a single rate for garage rents of £9.35 per week for a garage plot and £2.10 per week for a garage site be applied to new garage tenancies from April 2018 and to existing garage tenancies once improvements have been made to existing garage sites and plots;

(e)       the community heating unit charges remain unchanged for 2018/19;

(f)        the sheltered housing service charge remain unchanged for 2018/19;

(g)       burglar alarm charges remain unchanged for 2018/19; and

(h)       service charges for furnished accommodation remain unchanged from April 2018.”

6.2

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, and seconded by Councillor Steve Ayris, as an amendment, that the recommendations made by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 17^th January, 2018, concerning the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan and HRA Budget 2018/19, be approved with the addition of a new paragraph (i) as follows:-

(i)         (i) notes that it was necessary to remove the cladding from Hanover Tower, due to safety concerns following the devastating Grenfell Tower fire;

(ii) notes that the original purpose of the cladding was to insulate the tower block and that now residents of the building may face higher heating bills to compensate for the lack of insulation since the removal of the cladding; and

(iii) requests that officers ensure that any increase in heating costs since the removal of the cladding is identified and, if necessary, arrange to provide financial support to the residents from the District Heating Account or alternative sources of financial assistance.

6.3

After contributions from other Members, and following a right of reply from Councillor Jayne Dunn, the amendment was put to the vote and was negatived.

6.4

The original Motion was then put to the vote and carried, as follows:-