Issue - meetings

Key Decision

Portfolio Holder

Councillor David Martin – Portfolio Holder for Finance, Revenues and Benefits

RESOLVED

that the following HRA rent level and other HRA accommodation related

charges be set for 2022/23 as follows:

a)    an average rent increase of September Consumer Price Index (CPI) (3.1%) + 1% for all Council house rents for 2022/23;

b)    a garage and plot average rent increase of CPI (3.1%) + 1% for 2022/23;

c)    a weekly amenity charge increase of CPI (3.1%) +1% for all relevant council house properties for 2022/23;

d)    an increase to the communal heating charges of 5% for 2022/23;

e)    an increase for water charges at Brook Street Court of 1.1% for 2022/23;

f)      an increase for service charges for the properties at Hawkers Place of Retail Price Index (RPI) at December 2021 for 2022/23.

f)

Cabinet was requested to consider and approve the proposed Housing

Revenue Account (HRA) rent level and other HRA accommodation related

charges for Council tenants for the financial year 2022/23.

(At this point in the proceedings, Councillor Kier Barsby declared a Disclosable Pecuniary interest in this item due to the fact that he was currently a Council tenant.  His interest was such that he stayed in the room and took part in the discussion and voting thereon as the decisions did not relate to his tenancy.)

Members considered and subsequently declined the range of alternative

options for rent levels and accommodation related charges, as outlined in the

report.

RESOLVED

that the following HRA rent level and other HRA accommodation related

charges be set for 2022/23 as follows:

a)    an average rent increase of September Consumer Price Index (CPI) (3.1%) + 1% for all Council house rents for 2022/23;

b)    a garage and plot average rent increase of CPI (3.1%) + 1% for 2022/23;

c)    a weekly amenity charge increase of CPI (3.1%) +1% for all relevant council house properties for 2022/23;

d)    an increase to the communal heating charges of 5% for 2022/23;

e)    an increase for water charges at Brook Street Court of 1.1% for 2022/23;

f)      an increase for service charges for the properties at Hawkers Place of Retail Price Index (RPI) at December 2021 for 2022/23.

g)     

Reasons:

1.    To set a 4.1% rent increase in line with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (now known as Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) policy statement on rents for social housing 2019.

2.    To set an increase of 4.1% on garage rents to continue covering the increasing costs of maintenance and rental collection for the Council garage sites, consistent with the approach in previous years.

3.    To increase the amenity charge in line with the rent increase of 4.1% to continue covering the costs of providing the services which do not fall within the provision of the rent charge.

4.    To set an increase to the communal heating service charges. This is to recover the increase in prices from the utility company to the Council for providing the communal heating in the applicable housing court schemes.

5.    To set an increase to the service charge for water at Brook Street Court to cover the increase in prices from the utility company to the Council for providing water at Brook Street Court.

6.    To set an increase of RPI for the service fee for the properties at Hawkers Place estate, Hucknall, in line with the legal agreement between the Council and the Housing Development Company.