Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Executive Councillors (Finance) and (Communities)

The report provides details on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Self-Financing settlement and the work completed on developing and producing the HRA Asset Management Strategy and Business Plan, and seeks the Executive’s approval of the HRA Asset Management Strategy and 30 Year Business Plan.  The Executive had previously considered these proposals at its meeting on 16 December 2011.

(Note: HRA Asset Management Strategy and Business Plan and the 30 Year Business Plan have not been included within the agenda due to their size. Copies of the document are available on deposit at the Town Hall, in the Group Offices and on the Council’s website at: http://democracy.stockport.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=117&MId=291&Ver=4

The Executive is recommended to:

·       Note the report; and,

·       Endorse and approve the Asset Management Strategy and Business Plan, provided alongside this report.

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

The Executive Councillors (Communities) and (Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the finalised proposal for the self-financing of the Housing Revenue Account through a one-off settlement from the Government. The proposal had been subject to extensive consultation with tenants and councillors.

RESOLVED – That the Housing Revenue Account Asset Management Strategy and 30 Year Business Plan be endorsed and approved.

To consider a Joint report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services and the Service Director (Place Development).

The report provides details of the current offer made by government to Stockport to self-finance its housing service and seeks the comments of the Scrutiny Committee on the work completed to date and the key assumptions to be used in preparing a 30 year Business Plan for the HRA.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note the report and comment on the draft Asset Management Strategy and Business Plan provided alongside this report.

The Asset Management Strategy is included within the electronic agenda and is also available in each of the Group Offices. Members are encouraged to provide details of questions to officers in advance of the meeting to ensure they can be satisfactorily answered at the meeting.

Officer contact:  Michael Cullen on 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 Service Director (Place Development) (copies of which had been circulated) providing details of the current offer made by Government to Stockport to self-finance its housing service and seeking the comments of the Scrutiny Committee on the work completed to date and the key assumptions that had been used in the preparation of a 30 year Business Plan for the Housing Revenue Account.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Concern was expressed in relation to recent proposals by the Government to increase the current caps on Right to Buy discounts to encourage more tenants to take up the Right to Buy and the impact that this would have on the level of social housing stock in the Borough.  In response it was stated that the Government had set out a commitment that the receipts on every additional home sold under the Right to Buy would be used to fund replacement homes on a one for one basis with a new home for Affordable Rent.

·         The Council was planning to build 56 new properties over the next few years, which while welcome, would do little to assist the many thousands of applicants currently on a waiting list for social housing in the Borough.

·         The transition to self-financing of the Housing Revenue Account would provide for greater flexibility in future years for policy and political choices.

·         The end of the ‘negative subsidy’ whereby revenue from rents returned to central government was less than that received from the national Housing Revenue Account was welcomed.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a Joint report of the Corporate Director, for Corporate and Support Services and the Service Director, Place Development.

The report provides details of the current offer made by government to Stockport to self-finance its housing service and seeks the comments of the Scrutiny Committee on the work completed to date and the key assumptions to be used in preparing a 30 year Business Plan for the HRA.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note the report and comment on the draft Asset Management Strategy and Business Plan provided alongside this report.

The Asset Management Strategy is included within the electronic agenda and is also available in each of the Group Offices. Members are encouraged to provide details of questions to officers in advance of the meeting to ensure they can be satisfactorily answered at the meeting.

Officer contact – Michael Cullen, Strategic Accountant (Adults) Telephone 4674 4631 email: michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report (copies of which had been circulated) of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services and the Service Director, Place Development was submitted providing the Scrutiny Committee with details of the current offer made by government to Stockport to self-finance its housing service and seeks the comments of the Scrutiny Committee on the work completed to date and the key assumptions to be used in preparing a 30 year Business Plan for the HRA.

The Executive Councillor (Communities), Councillor Mark Weldon attended the meeting and introduced the report.

RESOLVED – That the report and draft Asset Management Strategy and Business Plan be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Executive Councillors (Communities) and (Finance)

The report details the recently announced Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Self-Financing settlement and the work to date on the HRA Asset Management Strategy and Business Plan. The report seeks the endorsement of the Executive to the approach, principles and assumptions contained within the draft HRA Asset Management Strategy and Business Plan. 

The Executive is recommended to:

·         Note the report, and

·         Endorse the construction of the Asset Management Strategy and Business Plan as outlined in the report.

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

The Executive Councillor (Communities) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider proposals for the self-financing of the Housing Revenue Account through a one-off settlement with the Government.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and endorsement be given to the development of an Asset Management Strategy and Business Plan to facilitate the self-financing of the Housing Revenue Account as outlined in the report.