Issue - meetings

Councillor Draycott submits a report asking the Cabinet to note the estimated working balance of £1,786,000 at the start of 2001-02 and the base budget for 2001-02 and to recommend to Council a rent level for 2001-02 and the level of miscellaneous payments and charges.  The views of the Housing Scrutiny Committee will be reported to the meeting.

Councillor Draycott submitted a report which summarised the financial position of the Housing Revenue Account for 2000/01 and 2001/02 and set out the options for Members in deciding the 2001/02 rent level, for recommendation to Council.  Councillor Draycott tabled a proposed resolution which included a recommendation for a 1% reduction in rents which would mean that the Council's rents were below the Government's rent cap.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the estimated working balance of £1.786 million to be carried forward to 2001/2002, be noted;

(2)that the Cabinet approve the 2001/2002 budget outlined at Appendix A of the report with the following amendments:-

(i)that £700,000 of repairs expenditure be charged to the Housing Capital Programme; and

(ii)that £124,000 of the cost of providing tenant/resident consultation be transferred to the General Fund;

(3)that a service development bid of £124,000 for the appointment of six Development Workers to support the new Community Associations proposed under Tenant Compacts, be approved;

(4)that all rent applied to dwellings, garages, parking spaces, targeted rents etc, be reduced by 1% in 2001/2002;

(5)that no increase be applied to district heating and hot water charges in 2001/2002; and

(6)that the recommendations of the Director of Housing and the Chief Financial Officer on the list of miscellaneous charges and payments as detailed in Appendix D of the report, be approved.