Issue - meetings

(a) That the Committee support the HRA 30 year Financial Business Plan and budget for 2023/24, as set out in the report and appendices; and

(b) That the Committee recommend to Cabinet that consideration be given, in year, to utilise any available reserves in order to bring into use additional void properties across Flintshire. 

The Principal Accountant gave a detailed presentation which covered the following areas:-

·         How we compare to other stock holding authorities.

·         Value for Money.   

·         Welsh Governments Rent Policy.

·         Income Modelling.

·         Proposed Rent Inflation of 5% for all tenants.

·         Rent Impact uplift & garages.

·         Impact of setting rents lower than permitted

·         Service Charges

·         Uncontrollable Pressures

·         Controllable pressures included in the service plan

·         The efficiencies identified

·         Prudential borrowing and 50 year pay back

·         Proposed reserve level at 7%

Councillors Rosetta Dolphin and Bernie Attridge expressed their concerns at reserves being set at 7% when the average was 3%

The Principal Accountant added that it was a legal requirement for them to hold reserves at 3%, but they had been set at 7% to protect the council around future cost pressures, i.e. pay awards. 

In response to a suggestion from Councillor Attridge, Councillor Sean Bibby, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, agreed that consideration could be given, in year, to utilise any available reserves in order to bring into use additional void properties across Flintshire.   

The recommendation, as outlined within the report, together with an additional recommendation to request that Cabinet consider utilising available reserves in year if possible, was moved by Councillor Bernie Attridge and seconded by Councillor Rosetta Dolphin. 

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee support the HRA 30 year Financial Business Plan and budget for 2023/24, as set out in the report and appendices; and

(b)       That the Committee recommend to Cabinet that consideration be given, in year, to utilise any available reserves in order to bring into use additional void properties across Flintshire.