Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet recommends to Council to: -

1.    Approve the proposed 2025/26 Base Case Option 2 for the HRA Business Plan.

2.    Note that the Business Plan will be reviewed annually to provide an updated financial position.

3.    Agree that Council dwelling rents are increased by 2.7% in 2025/26 (Option 2).

4.    Agree that the Council should retain the policy of realigning rents on properties at below formula rent to the formula rent level when the property is re-let to a new tenant.

5.    Agree that shared ownership rents are increased by 3.2% in 2025/26.

6.    Agree that charges for communal facilities, parking spaces, cooking gas and use of laundry facilities are increased by 2% in 2025/26.

7.    Agree that charges for garages are increased by 10% in 2025/26.

8.    Agree that the District Heating unit charge per Kwh is set at 13.09 pence per kwh.

9.    Agree that the decision to reduce the price of District Heating Charges further during 2025/26 be delegated to the Assistant Director of Housing in conjunction with the Assistant Director of Financial Services following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing. The delegation would only be used to respond to a change in Government policy or a significant change in the Ofgem price cap that has the effect of necessitating a lower unit price.

10.Approve the draft Housing Revenue Account budget for 2025/26 as shown in Appendix 6.