Agenda item

It was moved by Councillor Harry Harpham, seconded by Councillor Mazher Iqbal, that the recommendations of the Cabinet at its meeting on 16^th January 2013, concerning the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan 2012-17 Update and Housing Revenue Account Budget and Rent Increase 2013-14 be confirmed.

“RESOLVED: That this Cabinet recommends to the meeting of the City Council on 6^th February, 2013 that :-

(a)

the HRA Business Plan update report for 2013/14 be approved;

(b)

the HRA Revenue Budget for 2013/14 as set out in Appendix B of the Cabinet report be approved;

(c)

an increase in rents for Council dwellings by an average of 4.8% from April 2013 be approved;

(d)

an increase in annual rents for garages and garage sites by an average of 4.8% from April 2013 be approved;

(e)

an increase in community heating charges by 5% in 2013/14 be approved;

(f)

the Director of Commissioning, Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, be granted delegated authority to increase the sheltered housing service charge in the event of the City Wide Care Alarms charge being increased in 2013/14;

(g)

charges for furnished accommodation, interim accommodation, and burglar alarms be not increased; and

(h)

the Director of Commissioning, Communities and the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, be granted delegated authority to authorise prudential borrowing as allowed under current government guidelines.”

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Penny Baker, seconded by Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, that the recommendations of the Cabinet at its meeting on 16^th January, 2013, concerning the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan 2012-17 and Housing Revenue Account Budget and Rent Increase 2013/14, be approved with the following amendments:-

(a)

reduces the rise in heating charges from 5% to 1% in line with benefit increases, which will mean that a further £136k will be required from the community heating reserves;

(b)

notes that the reported 2012/13 surplus has increased to £7m and recommends the additional £300k, if achieved at the year-end, is allocated to repairing and replacing heating systems and boilers;

(c)

welcomes the decision not to implement the unfair practice of charging new tenants a higher rent than existing tenants, as recommended by the largest opposition group; and

(d)

regrets that the Administration refused to approach the private developer of the Park Hill project to request that they meet the associated costs of the project, currently funded by this Council.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was negatived.

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