Agenda item

This report presents to Members the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) forecast outturn for 2014/15 and a proposed HRA Business Plan budget for 2015/16 as required by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. The report sets out budget proposals for housing management services, stock investment and new council housing development, and rent-setting proposals for 2015/16.

HRA Business Plan Budget 2014/15:

(i)         that that the HRA forecast outturn 2014/15 (Table 1 –Budget Outturn Table 2014/15) be noted;

HRA Business Plan Budget 2015/16:

(ii)        that approval be given to the proposals and agreement to given to the savings/budget reductions for the HRA budget for 2015/16, as set out in Table 11 of this report and agree that they be included in the overall Budget for 2015/16 for approval by Full Council in March 2015;

(iii)       that approval be given to the HRA budget growth for 2015-16 of £1.434m and use of £778k of one off available resources;

Rent Setting 2015/16:

(iv)       that approval be given to an average overall rent increase (excluding service charges) from April 2015 of £3.14 per week, which is an average overall increase of 2.8%;

(v)        that the revised HRA Council Dwelling service charges from April 2015 which results in an average increase of 0.4% and £0.03 per week for the majority of households affected be agreed;

(vi)       that an average overall rent increase from April 2015 of £2.79 per dwelling per week on the Brent Stonebridge Dwellings, which is an average overall rent increase of 2.2% as set out in Appendix 1;

(vii)      that the service charges on the Brent Stonebridge Dwellings from April 2015 increase by an average of 2% or an average of £0.17 per dwelling per week as set out in Appendix 1;

(viii)     that approval be given to the rent increase for Residential Travellers Pitches from April 2015 of £2.45 per week, which is an average increase of 1% as set out in Appendix 2;

(ix)       that agreement be given to consult on proposals to de-pool charges for particular services, including CCTV and Door Entry and report the outcomes of this service charge review and consultation in 2015/16;

HRA Stock Investment 2015/16:

(x)        that the HRA stock investment capital programme of £41.7m for 2015/16 be approved;

HRA Council Housing Development 2015/16:

(xi)       that approval be given to the HRA Development Consultancy Fee of £1.045m and a capital new build programme of £5.447m for 2015/16 as set out in Table 10 to develop new council housing stock;

(xii)      that agreement be given to an exemption from the procurement requirements of Contract Standing Orders and delegates to the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Growth in consultation with the Director of Legal and Procurement, the negotiation and entry into a Development Services Agreement with Brent Housing Partnership (Arms Length Management Organisation) to deliver Development Services functions in relation to the development of new council homes;

(xiii)     that the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Growth in consultation with the Director of Legal and Procurement be authorised, to negotiate and enter into a Funding Delivery Agreement with the Greater London Authority, securing Investment Partnering Housing Status for Brent and Social Housing Grant funding in 2015 – 2018 to enable the development of new council homes;

(xiv)     that approval be given to Phase 1 Council New Build Development Programme schemes as set out in Appendix 3.

The report before the Cabinet presented the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) forecast outturn for 2014/15 and a proposed HRA Business Plan budget for 2015/16 as required by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. The report set out budget proposals for housing management services, stock investment and new council housing development, and rent-setting proposals for 2015/16. Councillor McLennan (Lead Member, Regeneration and Housing) outlined the position on housing management services, stock investment and improvement, new development providing 100 new council homes, rent and service charge increases and HRA Business Plan Forecast,  2015/16 including borrowing.

RESOLVED

HRA Business Plan Budget 2014/15:

(i)         that that the HRA forecast outturn 2014/15 (Table 1 –Budget Outturn Table 2014/15) be noted;

HRA Business Plan Budget 2015/16:

(ii)        that approval be given to the proposals and agreement to given to the savings/budget reductions for the HRA budget for 2015/16, as set out in Table 11 of this report and agree that they be included in the overall Budget for 2015/16 for approval by Full Council in March 2015;

(iii)       that approval be given to the HRA budget growth for 2015-16 of £1.434m and use of £778k of one off available resources;

Rent Setting 2015/16:

(iv)       that approval be given to an average overall rent increase (excluding service charges) from April 2015 of £3.14 per week, which is an average overall increase of 2.8%;

(v)        that the revised HRA Council Dwelling service charges from April 2015 which results in an average increase of 0.4% and £0.03 per week for the majority of households affected be agreed;

(vi)       that an average overall rent increase from April 2015 of £2.79 per dwelling per week on the Brent Stonebridge Dwellings, which is an average overall rent increase of 2.2% as set out in Appendix 1;

(vii)      that the service charges on the Brent Stonebridge Dwellings from April 2015 increase by an average of 2% or an average of £0.17 per dwelling per week as set out in Appendix 1;

(viii)     that approval be given to the rent increase for Residential Travellers Pitches from April 2015 of £2.45 per week, which is an average increase of 1% as set out in Appendix 2;

(ix)       that agreement be given to consult on proposals to de-pool charges for particular services, including CCTV and Door Entry and report the outcomes of this service charge review and consultation in 2015/16;

HRA Stock Investment 2015/16:

(x)        that the HRA stock investment capital programme of £41.7m for 2015/16 be approved;

HRA Council Housing Development 2015/16:

(xi)       that approval be given to the HRA Development Consultancy Fee of £1.045m and a capital new build programme of £5.447m for 2015/16 as set out in Table 10 to develop new council housing stock;

(xii)      that agreement be given to an exemption from the procurement requirements of Contract Standing Orders and delegates to the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Growth in consultation with the Director of Legal and Procurement, the negotiation and entry into a Development Services Agreement with Brent Housing Partnership (Arms Length Management Organisation) to deliver Development Services functions in relation to the development of new council homes;

(xiii)     that the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Growth in consultation with the Director of Legal and Procurement be authorised, to negotiate and enter into a Funding Delivery Agreement with the Greater London Authority, securing Investment Partnering Housing Status for Brent and Social Housing Grant funding in 2015 – 2018 to enable the development of new council homes;

(xiv)     that approval be given to Phase 1 Council New Build Development Programme schemes as set out in Appendix 3.