Agenda item

Council received a report presented by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Housing and Equalities, which set out the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget for the 2018/19 financial year and the medium term financial forecast for the next three years.

The Deputy Mayor informed Members that the account had a budget to break even and was targeted to have a working balance of £4.0m over the next four years.

The Deputy Mayor outlined the recommendations within the report, which included:-

·         That housing rents were decreased by 1% in 2018/19 and in 2019/20.  This decrease was a statutory change which was included within the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016. 2018/19 was the third of four years where there would be a 1% rent reduction.

·         The rent reductions had significantly reduced the resources available within the HRA but the Council was confident that it would not reduce its ability to deliver excellent value for money services to all tenants and ensure that the Council maintained the investment in tenant’s homes, especially around ensuring that they were as energy efficient as possible. The Council was also able to deliver significant fire safety improvements in its nine high rise blocks.

The Deputy Mayor expressed his disappointment that the four year rent reductions did reduce the number of new build Council houses that the Council was able to deliver, but this reduction had not stopped the Council House New Build Programme.  This decrease made a small weekly difference for tenants, but every little helped in the current economic climate.

The Deputy Mayor reported that the average rent in Doncaster would be the lowest of all Metropolitan District Councils at £69.83 per week.  Also, inflationary increases in the charges for garages and enclosed gardens were the first increase since April 2014.

He added that the HRA continued to fund £40m of investment within the Council stock during 2018/19.  The main areas of investment were fire safety works, the Council House new build programme, the regeneration of the Bristol Grove area in Wheatley, continued investment in new energy efficient boilers and heating systems and new roofs, including fascias, gutters and soffits.

Following the presentation of the Housing Revenue Account Budget proposals, 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 - 43

The Chair of Council, Councillor George Derx, the Vice-Chair of Council, Councillor Majid Khan, the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, and Councillors Duncan Anderson, Lani-Mae Ball, Nigel Ball, Iris Beech, Joe Blackham, Rachael Blake, Nigel Cannings, Bev Chapman, Mick Cooper, Linda Curran, Susan Durant, Nuala Fennelly, Neil Gethin, Sean Gibbons, John Gilliver, Pat Haith, Rachel Hodson,

Charlie Hogarth, Mark Houlbrook, David Hughes, Eva Hughes, Ken Keegan, Jane Kidd, Nikki McDonald, Chris McGuinness, Sue McGuinness,

John McHale, Bill Mordue, John Mounsey, David Nevett, Jane Nightingale, Andy Pickering, Andrea Robinson, Kevin Rodgers, Dave Shaw, Derek Smith, Frank Tyas, Austen White and Sue Wilkinson.

Against - 7

Councillors Nick Allen, Jane Cox, Steve Cox,Martin Greenhalgh, R. Allan Jones, Cynthia Ransome and Jonathan Wood.

Abstain - 0

On being put to the meeting, the recommendation contained within the report was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED that the Housing Revenue Account budget proposals, as set out within the report, be approved including:-

(1)       rents be reduced from 2nd April, 2018, by 1.0%, as detailed in paragraphs 7 to 10 of the report in line with Government policy; this would result in an average weekly rent decrease of £0.71, resulting in an average rent of approximately £69.83 per week. Rents would be charged every week of the year;

(2)       the budget proposals for the HRA for 2018/19, which are contained in Appendix A, which set a balanced budget for the HRA and maintain a reserve of £4.0m; and

(3)       fees and charges, as detailed in paragraph 13 of the report.