Issue - meetings

This report presents to Members the revised (probable) HRA budget for 2012/13 and the draft HRA budget for 2013/14 as required by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.  Members are required to consider these budget estimates and the associated options, taking account of the requirement to set a Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget that does not show a deficit and in particular Members need to consider and agree the level of HRA dwelling rents and service charges for 2013/14. The report also sets out an update on the 30 year HRA Business Plan which takes account of the HRA Self Financing regime which was introduced in April 2012. The report also includes proposals for setting the rent and service charge levels for 2013/14 for the non HRA Brent Stonebridge dwellings.

(i)         that the revised (probable) budget for 2012/13 (Appendix 1 Table 1) be approved;

(ii)        that agreement be given to the savings/budget reductions for 2013/14 as set out in paragraph 3.45.3 of the report from the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects;

(iii)       that approval be given to the HRA budget growth for 2013-14 of £3.877m as set out in paragraph 3.45.4 of the Director’s report;

(iv)       that approval be given to an average overall rent increase (excluding service charges) from April 2013 of £3.82 per week, which is an average overall increase of 3.74%, as set out in further detail in paragraphs 3.25 to 3.29 of the Director’s report;

(v)        that HRA Council Dwelling service charges be increased by 2.6% from April 2013;

(vi)       that approval be given to the HRA budget for 2013/14 as set out in Appendix 1 Table 1 of the Director’s report;

(vii)      that the updated HRA Business Plan be noted;

(viii)     that agreement be given to an average overall rent increase of £3.68 per dwelling per week on the Brent Stonebridge Dwellings, which is an average overall rent increase of 3.1% as set out in paragraph 3.59

(ix)       that the service charges on the Brent Stonebridge Dwellings be increased by an average of 11.8% or an average of £0.93 per dwelling per week (note this includes a new charge for digital tv) as set out in paragraph 3.62 of the Director’s report.

Councillor Long (Lead Member, Housing) introduced the report which presented to members the revised (probable) Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for 2012/13 and the draft HRA budget for 2013/14 as required by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.  She referred to the requirement to consider the budget estimates and the associated options, and to set a Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget that did not show a deficit. Councillor Long drew attention to the 30 year HRA Business Plan which took account of the HRA Self Financing regime which was introduced in April 2012. The report also included proposals for setting the rent and service charge levels for 2013/14 for the non HRA Brent Stonebridge dwellings. Councillor Long also referred to the changes introduced in the welfare system, some of which had implications for housing.

Councillor Long referred members to the recommendations in the report for approval.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the revised (probable) budget for 2012/13 as set out in Appendix 1 Table 1 of the report from the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects) be approved;

(ii)        that agreement be given to the savings/budget reductions for 2013/14 as set out in paragraph 3.45.3 of the Director’s report;

(iii)       that approval be given to the HRA budget growth for 2013-14 of £3.877m as set out in paragraph 3.45.4 of the Director’s report;

(iv)       that approval be given to an average overall rent increase (excluding service charges) from April 2013 of £3.82 per week, which is an average overall increase of 3.74%, as set out in further detail in paragraphs 3.25 to 3.29 of the Director’s report;

(v)        that HRA Council Dwelling service charges be increased by 2.6% from April 2013;

(vi)       that approval be given to the HRA budget for 2013/14 as set out in Appendix 1 Table 1 of the Director’s report;

(vii)      that the updated HRA Business Plan be noted;

(viii)     that agreement be given to an average overall rent increase of £3.68 per dwelling per week on the Brent Stonebridge Dwellings, which is an average overall rent increase of 3.1% as set out in paragraph 3.59;

(ix)       that the service charges on the Brent Stonebridge Dwellings be increased by an average of 11.8% or an average of £0.93 per dwelling per week (note this includes a new charge for digital tv) as set out in paragraph 3.62 of the Director’s report.