Decisions

To enter into a licence agreement with Network Rail (NR) and Great Western Railway (GWR) in order to extend the former Honeybourne Line. The extension will be granted to the council (CBC) on land owned by Network Rail and parts that are leased to Great Western Railway. Under the terms of the licence agreement the council will have to comply with certain conditions and restrictions to ensure effective management and maintenance of the extended section.

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.

RESOLVED THAT:  Council be recommended to:

1.    Approve the revised budget for 2022/23 which is reported here as part of the budget monitoring process for 31 December 2022;

2.    Consider the budget assessment by the Section 151 Officer at Appendix 2 in agreeing the following recommendations;

3.    Approve the final budget proposals including a proposed council tax increase for the services provided by Cheltenham Borough Council for the year 2023/24 based on a Band D property (an increase of 2.99% for a Band D property), as detailed in paragraphs 9.1 to 9.5;

4.    Approve the savings / additional income totalling £1,300,000 and the budget strategy at Appendix 4;

5.    Approve the use of reserves and general balances and note the projected level of reserves, as detailed at Appendix 5;

6.    Approve the capital programme at Appendix 6;

7.    Approve the programmed maintenance programme at Appendix 7;

8.    Approve the flexible use of capital receipts strategy as detailed in Appendix 8;

9.    Note that the Council will remain in the Gloucestershire business rates pool for 2023/24;

10.Approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) detailed in Appendix 9;

11.Approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24, including the continued payment of a living wage supplement at Appendix 10;

12.Approve the proposed fees and charges schedule for 2023/24 at Appendix 11, subject to appropriate consultation where required;

13.Approve a level of supplementary estimate of £100,000 for 2023/24 as outlined in Section 19;

14. Amend the definition of a Key Decision as set out in the constitution to increase the threshold for the acquisition or disposal of land from £250,000 to £500,000, and gives delegated authority to the Monitoring Officer to make the associated change to the constitution as outlined in Section 17.

RESOLVED THAT:

-       the strategy as set out in the HRA Business Plan 2023-28, and as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report, is approved

To consider the recommendation.

RESOLVED THAT:

1.     The following recommended rent support grants be approved:

-          Harvest Field Church, Lynworth Hall, Mendip Road – a rent support grant of 54% of the current market rent;

-          10^th Cheltenham Scouts, Scout Hut, Pittville Park, Central Cross drive – a rent support grant of 72% of the current market rent;

2.    Authority be delegated to the Participation and Engagement Team Leader, in consultation with the Director: One Legal, to agree the terms of a rent support grant agreement with the applicant.