Agenda item

The Council considered a report, presented by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Housing and Equalities, which set out the Mayor’s proposals for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget for the 2019/20 financial year and the medium term financial forecast for the next three years.

The Deputy Mayor reported that it was proposed that housing rents would be decreased by 1% in 2019/20 which was a statutory change that was included within the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016, and 2019/20 was the final year where there would be a 1% rent reduction.  The decrease made a small weekly difference for tenants, but every little helped in the current economic climate.  He pointed out that the average rent in Doncaster would be the lowest of all South Yorkshire Councils at £69.40 per week, and that it was also proposed that there would be inflationary increases in the charges for garages, enclosed gardens and district heating.

The Deputy Mayor reported that the HRA continued to fund almost £30m of investment into the Council stock each year over the next four years; the main areas of investment were energy efficiency improvements, including replacement boilers and other thermal efficiency works for hard to treat, non-traditional properties and external works such as new roofs, including fascias, gutters and soffits. In addition, the Council House New Build Programme would be completed, which had already been approved, which included properties in Edlington, Balby, Conisbrough and Wheatley. The Deputy Mayor explained that changes to the borrowing rules for the HRA and additional match funding that the Council had identified, provided a real opportunity to accelerate the Council’s New Build Programme in future years, and following the completion of the Housing Needs Survey, the Council would be approving an ambitious and exciting medium term plan for future New Build Council Housing.

The Deputy Mayor added that this year, 2019 marked100 years since the ambitious 1919 Housing Act, known as the Addison Act, which promised subsidies from the UK Government to help finance the construction of the very first social housing in the Country.  He commented that the Council was proud of its Council housing; it met the Doncaster Decency Standard and was provided at very affordable rent levels.  This Budget would ensure that the standard of all properties was maintained, many would receive further improvements, the day to day services which tenants received would be excellent and that the Council would deliver additional new build Council housing.

To conclude, the Deputy Mayor sought Council’s approval of the HRA Budget and rent decrease proposals.

Following the presentation of the Housing Revenue Account Budget 2019/20 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 - 47

The Chair of Council, Councillor Majid Khan, the Vice-Chair of Council, Councillor Linda Curran, the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, and Councillors Nick Allen, Duncan Anderson, Lani-Mae Ball, Nigel Ball, Iris Beech, Joe Blackham, Rachael Blake, Nigel Cannings, Phil Cole, Mick Cooper, Jane Cox, Steve Cox, Susan Durant, Neil Gethin, John Gilliver, Martin Greenhalgh, Pat Haith, John Healy, Rachel Hodson, Charlie Hogarth, Mark Houlbrook, David Hughes, Eva Hughes, Ken Keegan, Jane Kidd, Tosh McDonald, Chris McGuinness, Sue McGuinness, Bill Mordue, John Mounsey, David Nevett, Jane Nightingale, Ian Pearson, Cynthia Ransome, Tina Reid, Andrea Robinson, Kevin Rodgers, Dave Shaw, Derek Smith, Frank Tyas, Austen White, Sue Wilkinson and Paul Wray.

Against - 1

Councillor R. Allan Jones.

Abstain - 0

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 in the report, be approved including:-

(1)      rents be reduced from 1st April 2019, by 1.0%, as detailed in paragraphs 7 to 10 in the report, in line with Government policy; this will result in an average weekly rent decrease of £0.70, resulting in an average rent of approximately £69.40 per week. Rents will be charged every week of the year;

(2)      the Budget proposals for the HRA for 2019/20, 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 in paragraph 13 of the report.