Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillors (Communities & Sustainability) and (Corporate, Customer & Community Services).

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Sustainability) (Councillor Stuart Bodsworth) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Council Meeting to set the level of rent and service charges in the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and approve the HRA budget for 2014/15.

RESOLVED – (37 for, 20 abstentions) That approval be given to:-

(i)         An increase in the average rent of 4.9% for dwelling rents;

(ii)        An increase of 3.7% for garage rents;

(iii)       Service charges increasing as outlined in paragraph 3.2;

(iv)       A 3.7% increase in Carecall Charges;

(v)        A 3.7% increase in Warden Charges; and,

(vi)       The Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2014/15 as set out in Appendix 1.

The names of those councillors voting on this resolution were recorded as follows:-

Those councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

The Deputy Mayor (Councillor Mike Wilson); Councillors Ben Alexander, Shan Alexander, Brian Bagnall, Paul Bellis, Andrew Bispham, Stuart Bodsworth, Peter Burns, Martin Candler, Christine Corris, Stuart Corris, Sue Derbyshire, Kevin Dowling, Chris Gordon, Lenny Grice, Daniel Hawthorne, Kevin Hogg, Keith Holloway, Linda Holt, Sylvia Humphreys, Pam King, Mags Kirkham, Bryan Leck, Syd Lloyd, Patrick McAuley, Wendy Meikle, Adrian Nottingham, Anthony O’Neill, Wendy Orrell, John Pantall, Paul Porgess, Iain Roberts, June Somekh, Lisa Walker, Mark Weldon, Craig Wright and Suzanne Wyatt.

Those councillors who abstained were:-

The Mayor (Councillor Chris Murphy); Councillors Sheila Bailey, Laura Booth, Walter Brett, Kate Butler, Richard Coaton, Colin Foster, Dean Fitzpatrick, Alexander Ganotis, Tom Grundy, Philip Harding, Brian Hendley, Tom McGee, Paul Moss, Maureen Rowles, David Sedgwick, Andrew Verdeille, David White, Wendy Wild and David Wilson.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillors (Communities & Sustainability) and (Corporate, Customer & Community Services)

This report recommends the level of increase for rent and service charges for the Housing Revenue Account in 2014/15.  In addition charges for carecall services in 2014/15 are recommended, and a recommended Housing Revenue Account budget for 2014/15 is presented.

The Executive is asked to recommend that the Council Meeting approves:

·         An increase in the average rent of 4.9% for dwelling rents;

·         An increase of 3.7% for garage rents;

·         Service charges increasing as outlined in paragraph 3.2;

·         A 3.7% increase in Carecall Charges;

·         A 3.7% increase in Warden Charges; and,

·         The Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2014/15 as set out in Appendix 1.

(Note: this decision is exempt from call-in)

Office contact: Paul Lawrence, 0161 474 4515, paul.lawrence@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report of the Executive Councillors (Communities & Sustainability) and (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the level of rent and service charges for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), the charges for Carecall services, and the Housing Revenue Account budget for 2014/15.

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Sustainability) emphasised the need to increase rent levels to bring these in line with the agreed HRA Business Plan, but stated that every effort had been made to minimise the impact on tenants. He also thanked councillors who had made representations to him in relation to service charges for fuel for tower blocks and was pleased to report that as a result the proposed increase had been reduced for these charges.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve:

·        an increase in the average rent of 4.9% for dwelling rents;

·        an increase of 3.7% for garage rents;

·        service charges increasing as outlined in paragraph 3.2 of the report;

·        a 3.7% increase in Carecall Charges;

·        a 3.7% increase in Warden Charges; and,

·        the Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2014/15 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

To consider a Joint Report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services and the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration.

The report provides the Scrutiny Committee with the opportunity to comment on an illustrative Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget which will be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 11 February 2013 to recommend to the Council Meeting an HRA budget for 2014/15, including the level of rent and service charges. 

The illustrative budget is based on a number of key assumptions set out in the report regarding income from rent and service charges; expenditure commitments contained within the HRA 30 year Business Plan and Asset Management Strategy and indicative spending requirements to support inflationary pressures and identified investment priorities.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Michael Cullen on 0161 474 4631 or email: michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a joint report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services and the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with the opportunity to comment on an illustrative Housing Revenue Account Budget which would be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 11 February 2013 to recommend to the Council Meeting an HRA budget for 2014/15, including the level of rent and service charges.

The illustrative budget was based on a number of key assumptions set out in the report regarding income from rent and service charges; expenditure commitments contained within the HRA 30 year Business Plan and Asset Management Strategy and indicative spending requirements to support inflationary pressures and identified investment priorities.

The Executive Councillor for Communities and Sustainability (Councillor Stuart Bodsworth) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Stockport’s proposed rent increase was less than being implemented elsewhere in the country.

·         The proposed increase in energy charges of 8% detailed in the report had now been reduced to 4% following positive discussions between the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee and Stockport Homes.

·         A discussion took place in relation to the potential for an additional increase in the deficit in service charges resulting from the proposed reduction in energy charges in the light of the projected increase in deficit within the report based upon on 8% service charge increase.  In response, it was stated that Stockport Homes was confident that the reduction in the energy service charge could be contained without a significant impact on service provision.

·         The introduction of energy efficiency measures has had an impact on tenants’ energy use.

·         There was a Hardship Fund available to support those tenants’ who were struggling with costs associated with energy charges.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.