Agenda item

(a)       That the Committee support the HRA Budget for 2020/21 as set out in the appendices to the report;

(b)       That the proposed rent increase of up to 1.7% (plus up to £2) be supported;

(c)        That the Committee support a garage rent increase of £1.22 per week and a garage plot increase of £0.20 per week;

(d)       That the Committee support the phased increase in Service Charges recovery;

(e)       That the Committee support the rationale behind an increased level of reserves to 4%; and

(f)        That the proposed HRA Capital programme for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix B be supported.

The Chief Officer (Housing and Assets) and Strategic Finance Manager gave a joint presentation which covered the following areas:-

• New 5 Year Rent Policy announced by Welsh Government
• Affordability for tenants
• Proposed Rent Uplift
• Other Income
• Service Charges
• Revenue Efficiencies
• Revenue Pressures
• Capital Programme Delivery
• Draft Capital Programme 2020/21
• HRA Capital Funding 2020/21
• HRA – Considering Value for Money
• Reserves

Councillor Patrick Heesom commented on the previous campaign to retain the Council’s housing stock and sought an assurance that there were no proposals to move this service into an Alternative Delivery Model in the future.  The Chief Officer provided this assurance.

Councillor Bernie Attridge complimented officers on the report.  He commented on the increased borrowing levels and raised concerns that this may affect the target to build 500 homes in the next 5 years.  He referred to estate management action plans and asked if this information, ward by ward, could be provided to Members.  He welcomed the proposal for Housing Officers to be based in hubs across Flintshire and also welcomed the funding from Welsh Government but was concerned that the accumulative effect of the increase in rent, together with service charges and changes to housing benefits could negatively impact tenants.  He also asked if the Tenants Federation had been consulted on the HRA Business Plan.  The Strategic Finance Manager – Commercial & Housing provided information on the borrowing levels, explaining that an increase in borrowing levels meant an increase in risk to the build programme and therefore it had been necessary to increase reserves to a sufficient level in order to mitigate this.  The Chief Officer confirmed that the Tenants Federation would be consulted on the business plan prior to its consideration at Cabinet and County Council.

            In response to questions from Councillor Attridge on the reduction in costs for a Health and Safety Officer and insurance claim services visiting vulnerable tenants with promises of no win no fee services, the Chief Officer explained that the Health and Safety Officer role would now be delivered in-house which provided an efficiency.  He was aware of insurance claim services visiting tenants across Flintshire but advised that they were dealt with by Legal Services and were defended vigorously.

            Councillor Paul Shotton thanked officers for the report and commented on the high vote to retain Council homes across Flintshire and praised the work being carried out on the installation of modular homes at Garden City.

            Councillor Ted Palmer asked if consideration had bene given to continuing with a programme once the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) had bene completed across Flintshire.  The Chief Officer advised that the WQHS programme would be re-shaped with similar levels of funding attached to deliver de-carbonisation programmes and also to main the WHQS standard in homes.

            In response to concerns raised by Councillor Dennis Hutchinson on the potential to reduce the number of homes built due to increased borrowing costs, the Chief Officer explained that there were no proposals to reduce the number of homes built through the Strategic Housing and Regeneration Programme (SHARP).      

            The recommendation within the report were moved by Councillor Paul Shotton and seconded by Councillor Patrick Heesom.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee support the HRA Budget for 2020/21 as set out in the appendices to the report;

(b)       That the proposed rent increase of up to 1.7% (plus up to £2) be supported;

(c)        That the Committee support a garage rent increase of £1.22 per week and a garage plot increase of £0.20 per week;

(d)       That the Committee support the phased increase in Service Charges recovery;

(e)       That the Committee support the rationale behind an increased level of reserves to 4%; and

(f)        That the proposed HRA Capital programme for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix B be supported.