Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) 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 2022/23.

RESOLVED - That approved be given to:-

(a) An increase of 4.1% for social rent;

(b) An increase of 5.4% for rent of shared ownership properties;

(c) Service charge increases as outlined in section 3;

(d) The Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2022/23 as set out in

Appendix 1 to the report.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport.

The purpose of this report is to provide the Scrutiny Committee with the opportunity to comment on an illustrative Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget. The Cabinet will be meeting on 1 February to recommend to Council a HRA budget for 2022/23, 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.

This report takes account of the HRA Rent Strategy 2020 - 2025 which was approved by the Cabinet on 20 August 2019.

The Cabinet is asked to recommend that the Council meeting approves:

a) An increase of 4.1% for social rent;

b) An increase of 5.4% for rent of shared ownership properties;

c) Service charge increases as outlined in section 3;

d) The Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2022/23 as set out in Appendix 1

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

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Cabinet to consider the rent levels and service charges for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and a recommended budget for 2022/23.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the following in relation to the Housing Revenue Account:-

a) An increase of 4.1% for social rent;

b) An increase of 5.4% for rent of shared ownership properties;

c) Service charge increases as outlined in section 3;

d) The Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2022/23 as set out in Appendix 1.

To consider a joint Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and the Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer).

The purpose of this report is to provide the Scrutiny Committee with the opportunity to comment on an illustrative Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget. The Cabinet will be meeting on 1 February to recommend to Council a HRA budget for 2022/23, 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.

This report takes account of the HRA Rent Strategy 2020 - 2025 which was approved by the Cabinet on 20 August 2019.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on the report and the illustrative HRA Budget for 2022/23. 

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

The Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with the opportunity to comment on an illustrative Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget. The Cabinet will be meeting on 1 February to recommend to Council a HRA budget for 2022/23, 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 Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) also attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The acknowledgement that the proposed increases would be difficult for some people was welcomed.

·         The comparator housing associations referenced within the report had been selected either because they had operations in the borough, or because they had a broadly similar property portfolio as Stockport Homes.

·         It was noted that those tenants in receipt of housing benefit would see the amount of such benefit increased to cover the additional cost.

·         It was noted that other providers in the borough may choose to increase their rent levels as well, but this was beyond the control of the council.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.