1) That, in order to comply with the requirements of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 to have a balanced Housing Revenue Account and the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 to reduce rents payable for social housing by at least 1% from April 2016, approval be given to the proposed rent and service charge changes, as detailed within the considered report, from April 2019 for 2019/2020.
2) That approval be given to uplift charges (i) for Extra Care Services – Intensive Housing Management at 6% (between £1.29 and £3.29 per week) and (ii) Extra Care Services – Night Care Service by 20.5% ((£2.94 a week), and the proposal to establish a ‘discretionary hardship fund’ be noted.
3) That approval be given to the charging of a target rent on all properties let to new tenants from 1 April 2019, and that it be noted that enhancements to the Council’s lettable standard are to be made, with budget provisions having been considered at Agenda Item 7.
4) That it be noted that the approval of the above recommendations will ensure that a balanced Housing Revenue Account will be achieved, and that there is compliance with the requirements of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
5) That the national and local financial challenges as detailed within the report be noted.