DECISION

1.            To agree that the Authority will continue to follow current rent restructuring policy, and that therefore, based on the September 2013 RPI (retail price index) figure of 3.2%, the average 2014/15 weekly rent increase for tenanted Council dwellings will be £5.04, and the average weekly tenanted service charge increase will be £0.36 from the first rent week in April 2014.

2.            To note that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget will be presented to Cabinet for approval in February 2014.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT AND RENEWAL (A. DALVI)

(Senior Accountant (K. Ball)

(Finance Manager (P. Leeson)

Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing,  introduced the report. She explained that the government set the rent policy, however, even after the proposed increase of 4.9%, the Council’s rent charges would still be the lowest social housing charges in the Borough.

The Mayor agreed the recommendations as set out in the report.

RESOLVED

1.            To agree that the Authority will continue to follow current rent restructuring policy, and that therefore, based on the September 2013 RPI (retail price index) figure of 3.2%, the average 2014/15 weekly rent increase for tenanted Council dwellings will be £5.04, and the average weekly tenanted service charge increase will be £0.36 from the first rent week in April 2014.

2.            To note that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget will be presented to Cabinet for approval in February 2014.