Issue - meetings

Report of Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets

RESOLVED THAT:  Council be recommended to:

1.    Approve the HRA budget proposals for 2023/24 (shown at Appendix 2);

2.    Approve a rent increase of 7% for social rent homes, affordable rent homes and shared ownership homes (but capping affordable rented homes rent at the Local Housing Allowance where applicable);

3.    Approve changes to other rents and service charges as detailed within the report;

4.    Approve the HRA capital programme for 2023/24 as shown at Appendix 3 and Appendix 4;

5.    Approve entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with DLUHC (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) in respect of a £2.36 million grant for the provision of 21 affordable homes during 2023/24 under the Local Authority Housing Fund (subject to DLUHC notifying CBC that their proposed grant funding allocation has been confirmed), see section 5.5;

6.    Ratify the performance and satisfaction targets set by CBH for 2023/24;

7.    Note the revised HRA forecast for 2022/23.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets introduced his report briefly, ahead of full consideration at Council the following Monday.  He said financial turmoil within the national economy put pressure on the housing revenue account, as detailed in the report.  He highlighted an additional item that wasn’t included in the consultation paperwork – that Cheltenham has been allocated £2.36m from the government’s Local Authority Housing Fund, for the provision of more affordable homes to support of refugees, mostly from Ukraine and Afghanistan.  The estimated total cost for providing these homes is £6m, and the government has provided a list of criteria to work within, notably the condensed timescale for provision of the homes.  CBC and CBH officers are already working on this.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency thanked the Cabinet Member and officers for their exceptional work, rising to incredible challenges at a time when many councils had buckled.  They have done an impressive job which has her complete support.

Members moved to the vote, where it was unanimously

RESOLVED THAT:  Council be recommended to:

1.    Approve the HRA budget proposals for 2023/24 (shown at Appendix 2);

2.    Approve a rent increase of 7% for social rent homes, affordable rent homes and shared ownership homes (but capping affordable rented homes rent at the Local Housing Allowance where applicable);

3.    Approve changes to other rents and service charges as detailed within the report;

4.    Approve the HRA capital programme for 2023/24 as shown at Appendix 3 and Appendix 4;

5.    Approve entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with DLUHC (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) in respect of a £2.36 million grant for the provision of 21 affordable homes during 2023/24 under the Local Authority Housing Fund (subject to DLUHC notifying CBC that their proposed grant funding allocation has been confirmed), see section 5.5;

6.    Ratify the performance and satisfaction targets set by CBH for 2023/24;

7.    Note the revised HRA forecast for 2022/23.