1.         To agree that the Authority will continue to follow rent restructuring guidelines, and that therefore, the average 2013/14 weekly rent increase for tenanted Council dwellings will be £4.39 and the average weekly tenanted service charge increase will be £0.25 from the first rent week in April 2013.

2.         To note that the HRA budget will be presented to Cabinet for approval in February 2013.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT AND RENEWAL (A. DALVI)

(Service Head - Resources (C. Holme)

(Finance Manager (P. Leeson)

(Senior Accountant, D&R (K. Ball)

[Note – Agenda Items 10.1 (Housing Revenue Account), 10.2 (Council Tax Base Report), 10.3 (General Fund Capital and Revenue Budgets) and 10.4 (Council Tax Support Scheme) were considered together and the combined minute is presented here. The approved recommendations are listed under the relevant items]

Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, introduced the report for Item 10.1. She highlighted that although the rents were increasing in line with government policy they were still very low in comparison to other boroughs.

Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources, introduced the reports for items 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4. In particular he highlighted that:

·         There were proposed changes to Council Tax to encourage landlords to ensure properties were occupied.

·         The Council budget presented was at a draft stage and would go out to consultation.

·         The budget listed actions to deal with the funding gap from central government whilst tackling the Mayor’s priorities.

·         The Council Tax support scheme was important in these tough economic circumstances.

The reports were discussed and issues raised included:

·         Consultations with unions over reductions in posts.

·         Service charge levels for tenants.

·         Actions to support families suffering economic difficulties.

·         Positive actions being taken in areas such as supporting young people in education in spite of the government funding cuts.

The Mayor thanked everyone for their contributions and accepted the recommendations in the reports.

RESOLVED

1.         To agree that the Authority will continue to follow rent restructuring guidelines, and that therefore, the average 2013/14 weekly rent increase for tenanted Council dwellings will be £4.39 and the average weekly tenanted service charge increase will be £0.25 from the first rent week in April 2013.

2.         To note that the HRA budget will be presented to Cabinet for approval in February 2013.