Agenda item

The Council considered a report, presented by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Housing and Equalities, which detailed the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget proposals for the 2022/23 financial year, and the medium-term financial forecast for the following three years, which had a budget to break even.

The Deputy Mayor stated that the Council was proud of its low rents in Doncaster which made good quality homes affordable for over 20,000 households in the Borough.  However, he was disappointed that the rent increase was larger this year than in previous years, but it was still below the current rate of inflation.  Social rents in Doncaster remained the lowest in South Yorkshire and were significantly lower than those in the private sector, as they were also more than £11 a week lower than they would have been if rents had not been reduced by 1% a year for 4 years from 2016 to 2019.  The rent increase was much needed because as a landlord, the Council had recognised the impact of high inflation on all of its costs, and that this rent increase would generate additional income of £3.1m, but the Council’s estimated expenditure for the year would increase by £3.6m.

It was reported that the Council was also seeing increased demand for social housing as many other housing options had become unaffordable for residents.  The demand on services and the need for investment in the Council’s properties continued to rise and all of this was paid for from tenants’ rents.  The services provided to tenants and the quality of the housing offer exceeded those of many other landlords at a time when the Council rents were not only the lowest in South Yorkshire, but in the lowest 10 for the whole Country.

The Deputy Mayor stated that the Council wanted its tenants to be able to sustain their tenancies and that staff were available to assist with this, and also with maximising their income and reducing outgoings; if nothing else had been learned from the Covid pandemic, everyone had all learnt the value of the roof over their heads.

The Deputy Mayor stressed that poverty and especially fuel poverty was a concern to the Council which would continue to invest heavily in energy efficiency improvements across all of its housing stock and it was on track to achieve EPC level C for all of its properties by 2030.  Almost 60% of the planned Housing Capital Investment Programme for next year would be on investment which would improve the energy efficiency of Council properties.  The HRA continued to fund in excess of £100m of investment into the existing Council stock over the next four years; the main areas of investment were energy efficiency improvements and external works such as new roofs including fascias, gutters and soffits.

In concluding his presentation, the Deputy Mayor pointed out that within Housing, the Council had recognised the importance of its contribution to the wider objectives for the Borough and would continue to grow the number of apprentices employed to 45, which was more than 5% of the St Leger Homes workforce.  The Council was also looking to increase this number further to match the growing investment programme over the next few years.  In addition, funding had also been identified to plant an additional 150 trees a year on housing land.

Following the presentation of the HRA, Members were afforded the opportunity to comment on the report.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 21.4, a recorded vote was taken on the recommendations contained within the report, which was declared as follows:-

For - 39

The Vice-Chair of Council, Councillor Ian Pearson, the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, and Councillors Bob Anderson, Duncan Anderson, Lani-Mae Ball, Nigel Ball, Iris Beech, Joe Blackham, Rachael Blake, James Church, Gemma Cobby, Phil Cole, Linda Curran, Susan Durant, Sue Farmer, Sean Gibbons, Julie Grace, John Healy, Leanne Hempshall, Charlie Hogarth, Mark Houlbrook, Debbie Hutchinson, Barry Johnson, Majid Khan, Sue Knowles, Sophie Liu, Tracy Moran, John Mounsey, Emma Muddiman-Rawlings, Tim Needham, David Nevett, Jane Nightingale, Andy Pickering, Rob Reid, Andrea Robinson, Glynis Smith, Sarah Smith and Austen White.

Against - 0

Abstain - 8

Councillors Laura Bluff, Nigel Cannings, Jane Cox, Steve Cox, Martin Greenhalgh, Thomas Noon, Cynthia Ransome and Gary Stapleton.

On being put to the meeting, the recommendations contained within the report were declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget proposals, as detailed within the report, be approved including:-

(1)      rents be increased from 4thApril, 2022 by 4.1%, as detailed within paragraphs 7 to 10 of the report in line with Government policy; this will increase average weekly rent by £3.00, resulting in an average rent of approximately £76.06 per week.  Rents will be charged every week of the year;

(2)      the budget proposals for the HRA for 2022/23, which are contained in Appendix A to the report; these proposals set a balanced budget for the HRA and maintain a reserve of £4.0m; and

(3)      fees and charges, as detailed within paragraph 14 of the report.