Issue - meetings

Further to Minute No. 48 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member, Safe and Attractive Neighbourhoods, held on 9^th January, 2012, consideration was given to a report presented by Dave Richmond, Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services, setting out the proposed housing rent, new build rents, garage rent, heating charge and communal facilities increases for 2012/13.

The report set out in fine detail the proposed housing rent, new build rents, garage rent, heating charge and communal facilities increases for 2012/13.

It was noted that this report was to be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on the 18^th January, 2012.

Resolved:-  (1)That the request for Cabinet to recommend to Council be noted and that:-

(a)  An average rent increase of 9.45% based on the DCLG rent formula which resulted in an average weekly increase of £6.02 when collected over 48 weeks.

(b)  An average rent of £95.57 on new build Council properties.

(c)  Garage Rents be increased by 5.6%, in line with the annual Retail Price Index. 5.6%.

(d)  The standard communal facilities charge be increased by 5.6% in line with the annual Retail Price Index.

(e)  The standard cooking gas charge be increased by 5.6% in line with the annual Retail Price Index.

(f)  The various proposed increases to heating charges set out above.

(2)  That a Review take place on District Heating Charges under the remit of value for money.

(3)  That a report be submitted after 12 months implementation of the revised laundry charges with a view to ascertaining whether they provided value for money for the facilities provided.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act - information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council))

Consideration was given to a joint report of the Finance Manager (Neighbourhoods and Adult Services) and Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services, setting out the proposed housing rent, new build rents, garage rent, heating charge and communal facilities increases for 2012/13.

The report set out in detail the proposed housing rent, new build rents, garage rent, heating charge and communal facilities increases for 2012/13.  The rents had been calculated in accordance with the national rent setting regime requiring all authorities to use the prescribed formula and apply annual increases to actual rents to achieve the Formula Rent.  The Government expected that all similar properties in the same local area would have similar rent levels even if owned by different landlords (rent convergence).  Rotherham was expected to achieve rent convergence by 2015/16.

It was noted that this report was to be considered by the Self Regulation Select Commission on 12^th January and by the Cabinet at its meeting on the 18^th January, 2012.

Resolved:-  That Cabinet be requested to recommend to Council:-

(1)  An average rent increase of 9.45% based on the DCLG rent formula which resulted in an average weekly increase of £6.02 when collected over 48 weeks.

(2)  An average rent of £95.57 on new build Council properties.

(3)  Garage Rents be increased by 5.6%, in line with the annual Retail Price Index. 5.6%.

(4)  The standard communal facilities charge be increased by 5.6% in line with the annual Retail Price Index.  For those Centres with laundry facilities there would be an 80p per week increase replacing the current separate charge of £1.

(5)  The standard cooking gas charge be increased by 5.6% in line with the annual Retail Price Index.

(6)  The various proposed increases to heating charges set out in Section 7 of the submitted report

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council))