Decision details

Cabinet Member approval sought in respect of Housing Revenue Account and associated charges 2017-18.

1.         That the Cabinet Member for Housing agreed that Housing Revenue Accounts (HRA) rents be reduced by 1% from 3^rd April 2017 in order to comply with the provisions of the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 and noted that the impact of this is a rent loss of £1.337m compared to 2016-17.

2.         That the Cabinet Member for Housing noted that the Council continues to exercise its discretion under the rent restructuring policy to set rents for new tenants and transfers on all re-lets at formula target rent from Monday 3^rd April 2017 and that the impact of this is estimated to generate an additional £54k, assuming current levels of turnover in HRA stock.

3.         That the Cabinet Member for Housing agreed that tenant service charges be varied in line with estimated actual costs for 2017-18 from Monday 3^rd April 2017.

4.         That the Cabinet Member for Housing agreed that charges for car parking, parking spaces and sheds and garages be increased by 2% from Monday 3^rd April 2017 and noted that this will generate an additional £22k.

Reasons for Decision

To set the HRA tenant rents and other charges for the financial year 2017-18. The City Council is required by law to give tenants at least 28 days’ notice of any variation to the rent charged.