Agenda item

8.1

The report provided an update of the key national and local contextual influences on the development of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan 2023/24. It included an explanation of the legal and financial framework governing the creation of the HRA Business Plan along with an assessment of associated risk. It set the scene for a more detailed exploration of the potential options for delivering a balanced HRA Business Plan to be considered by this Committee in November 2022.

8.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Housing Policy Committee:-

1.     Notes the HRA Business Plan update and wider national and local influences as described in this report.

2.     Recommends that a further HRA Business Plan 2023/24 report to be presented at the Housing Policy Committee in November 2022 including recommendations around the rent increases for 2023/24, the HRA budget for 2023/24 and savings proposals for 2023/24.

8.3

Reasons for Decision

8.3.1

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

8.3.2

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

8.3.3

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

8.3.4

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

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

8.4.1

Sheffield City Council has a statutory duty to produce an annual balanced HRA budget, which is evidenced by the business plan update, therefore no alternative option was considered to producing this report.

11.1

The Director of Housing Services presented the report which provided an update of the key national and local contextual influences on the development of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan 2023/24. It included an explanation of the legal and financial framework governing the creation of the HRA Business Plan along with an assessment of associated risk. It set the scene for a more detailed exploration of the potential options for delivering a balanced HRA Business Plan to be considered by this Committee in November 2022.

11.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Housing Policy Committee:-

1.     Notes the HRA Business Plan update and wider national and local influences as described in this report.

2.     Recommends that a further HRA Business Plan 2023/24 report to be presented at the Housing Policy Committee in November 2022 including recommendations around the rent increases for 2023/24, the HRA budget for 2023/24 and savings proposals for 2023/24.

11.3

Reasons for Decision

11.3.1

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

11.3.2

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

11.3.3

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

11.3.4

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

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

11.4.1

Sheffield City Council has a statutory duty to produce an annual balanced HRA budget, which is evidenced by the business plan update, therefore no alternative option was considered to producing this report.