Issue - meetings

Arising from a report from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) and Director of Operations considering the options available in order for the Council to set a balanced budget for 2019/20 and agree a future strategy for further budgetary planning for 2020/2021 onwards; the Homes Policy Development Group had made the following recommendation: that the proposed HRA budget for 2019/20 be approved subject to garage rents being frozen for 2019/20 and that from 2020/2021 onwards garage rents be increased by the Consumer Prices Index plus 1%.

Arising from a * report from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) and Director of Operations considering the options available in order for the Council to set a balanced budget for 2019/20 and agree a future strategy for further budgetary planning for 2020/2021 onwards; the Homes Policy Development Group had made the following recommendations: that the proposed HRA budget for 2019/20 be approved subject to garage rents being frozen for 2019/20 and that from 2020/2021 onwards garage rents be increased by the Consumer Prices Index plus 1%.

The Cabinet Member for Finance outlined the contents of the report stating that the Housing Revenue Account was well managed and he highlighted the 1% rent decrease proposed by central Government in 2015 each year until 2019/20. It was proposed that rents be increased in 2010/21 by CPI plus 1% which confirmed with the previous rent policy.  He stated that it was  proposed to freeze garage rents for 2019/20.  He explained the Right to Buy system and the impact of this on the HRA.

Consideration was given to the impact of the Right to Buy scheme.

RESOLVED that the recommendation of the Policy Development Group be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr P H D Hare-Scott and seconded by Cllr R L Stanley)

Note:  *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To receive a report from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) and the Director of Operations considering the options available in order for the Council to set a balanced budget for 2019/20 and agree a future strategy for further budgetary planning for 2020/21 onwards.

The Group had before it, and NOTED, a report * from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) and Director of Operations considering the options available in order for the Council to set a balanced budget for 2019/20 and agree a future strategy for further budgetary planning for 2020/2021 onwards.

The following was highlighted within the report:

·         The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was a ring-fenced account within Mid Devon’s financial accounting system meaning that a balanced budget had to be set each year. This included all income and expenditure pertinent to the Council’s landlord function.

·         The appendices attached to the report showed the previous year and current year movements as well as the proposed budget for 2019/20.

·         Various assumptions had been made in setting the proposed budget including a 1% decrease in all rents.

Consideration was given to the proposed increase with regard to garage rents. However it was felt that the increase proposed was so small that it would have a detrimental effect.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that the proposed HRA budget for 2019/20 be approved subject to garage rents being frozen for 2019/20 and that from 2020/2021 onwards garage rents be increased by the Consumer Prices Index plus 1%.

(Proposed by Cllr R J Dolley and seconded by Cllr Mrs G Doe)

Note: * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the signed minutes.