Agenda item

10.1

The committee considered a report of the Executive Director Neighbourhood Services providing an update on the current national and local housing context, regulatory requirements, the priorities for Committee to action alongside capital and revenue spending plans for 2025/26.

10.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Housing Policy Committee:-

1.    Notes that the HRA Business Plan report for 2025/26, the HRA Business Plan priorities for 2025/26 and HRA Revenue Budget 2025/26 as set out in the Financial Appendices included in Appendix A to this Report, will go to the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee at its meeting in January 2025, for recommendation to Full Council for approval

2.    Notes that once adopted by Full Council, monitoring delivery of HRA Business Plan priorities will be within the remit of the Housing Policy Committee

3.    Notes the recommendation for increasing Council rents 2025/26 in line with the Regulator of Social Housing’s Rent Standard

10.3

Reasons for Decision

10.3.1

This report and its recommendations, sets out the scale of the challenge ahead, the limited resources available and the difficult decisions that now need to be taken to deliver a balanced HRA budget for 2025/26 and for the overall 30-year viability.

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

10.4.1

The Council is required to both set a balanced in year HRA budget and to ensure that in-year income and expenditure are balanced over 30 years. No other alternatives were considered.

39.1.1

The committee considered a report of the Executive Director Neighbourhood Services providing an update on the current national and local housing context, regulatory requirements, the priorities for Committee to action alongside capital and revenue spending plans for 2025/26.

39.1.2

Members asked for the number of new Council homes acquired in the last 12 months. Officers agreed to provide the information after the meeting.

39.1.3

Discussion took place around the changes to the Right to Buy Scheme and a briefing was requested to include information on; the number of applications that were received prior to the cut off for the old scheme, the new discount rates available and the potential impacts of the new scheme.

39.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Housing Policy Committee:-

1.    Notes that the HRA Business Plan report for 2025/26, the HRA Business Plan priorities for 2025/26 and HRA Revenue Budget 2025/26 as set out in the Financial Appendices included in Appendix A to this Report, will go to the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee at its meeting in January 2025, for recommendation to Full Council for approval

2.    Notes that once adopted by Full Council, monitoring delivery of HRA Business Plan priorities will be within the remit of the Housing Policy Committee

3.    Notes the recommendation for increasing Council rents 2025/26 in line with the Regulator of Social Housing’s Rent Standard

39.3

Reasons for Decision

39.3.1

This report and its recommendations, sets out the scale of the challenge ahead, the limited resources available and the difficult decisions that now need to be taken to deliver a balanced HRA budget for 2025/26 and for the overall 30-year viability.

39.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

39.4.1

The Council is required to both set a balanced in year HRA budget and to ensure that in-year income and expenditure are balanced over 30 years. No other alternatives were considered.