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Councillor Federica
Smith-Roberts proposed the recommendations which were seconded by
Councillor Liz Leyshon.
 
Having been duly proposed
and seconded, the Council RESOLVED to approve:
1)   
Revenue Budget for
2024/25 (see section 8) 
·      
The HRA Annual Revenue
Budget for 2024/25 as shown in Appendix
A.  
2)   
Rent Setting for
2024/25 (see section 10) 
·      
An increase of 7.7% to
Dwelling Rents in line with the Governments 2019 (and updated 2023)
Rent Standard. 
·      
An increase of 7.7% for
Sheltered and Extra Care housing rents in line with the dwelling
rents increase. 
·      
An increase of 7.7% for
Shared Ownership properties.  
·      
An increase of 7.7% on
affordable rental tenures, with the rent being reviewed at relet
based on 80% of open market rent capped at the LHA
rate. 
·      
The continuation of rent
flex at relet for new tenants within the West of the Council for
tenants part of the in-house service (dwelling stock inherited from
the legacy Somerset West and Taunton Council) as included in the
Rent Charging Policy. This would be levied at basic rent plus 5%
for general needs tenants and 10% for sheltered and extra care
tenants. 
·      
The introduction of rent
flex at relet for new tenants within the North of the Council for
tenants part of Homes In Sedgemoor (dwelling stock inherited from
the legacy Sedgemoor District Council) as included in the Rent
Charging Policy. This would be levied at basic rent plus 5% for
general needs tenants and 10% for sheltered and extra care
tenants. 
3)   
Fees & Charges
for 2024/25 (see section 11) 
·      
An increase in Service
Charges for tenants in the North, managed by Homes In Sedgemoor,
based on predicted costs in line with the service charging policy.
The introduction of a transparent 10% service charge management
fee. The service charges were contained in Appendix
B.  
·      
An increase in Service
Charges for tenants in the West, managed by the In-House Service,
of (a) 7.7% for Grounds Maintenance and the Support / Sheltered
Housing and Extra Care accommodation services, (b) 6.8% for the
Piper Lifeline service, (c) other charges based on actual costs
incurred for laundry, heating, communal areas, communal door entry
systems, (d) no change to the communal utilities charge, (e) a new
charge for exceptional street cleaning, (f) sewerage would increase
in line with the Wessex Water increases for 2024/25 once known. The
service charges were contained in Appendix
C. 
·      
An increase of 7.7% for
garage rents. 
·      
An increase of 6.7% on
temporary accommodation daily
rates.  
·      
An increase of 6.7% for
Meeting Hall hourly rental rates.  
·      
An increase of 6.7% for
Guest Room charges. 
4)   
Capital Programme
from 2024/25 (see section 12) 
·      
The HRA Major Works and
Improvement Capital Programme for 2024/25 of £8,834,500 for
HiS and £19,189,200 for the In-House
Service.   
·      
To approve a capital
budget of £940,000 for the delivery of the Bespoke
Homes Phase 2 scheme (North of Somerset). This scheme would
deliver 2 large and fully adapted new homes that would be built to
low carbon standards in excess of building regulations and extend
two existing council dwellings to create larger adapted homes. The
proposal was to finance this using an appropriate combination of up
to 29.78% subsidy from Homes England and the remainder funded by
borrowing. These homes would be let at social
rents.  
·      
To approve a capital
budget of £968,000 for the delivery of the Rochester
Road Step Down / Move on Accommodation (West of Somerset). This
scheme would deliver 8 new homes and let to vulnerable adults or
children such as low complex homeless or children leaving care. The
homes would use Modern Methods of construction and be of built to
low carbon standards in excess of building regulations. The
proposal was to finance this scheme using a combination of Better
Care Funding and the remainder funded by borrowing. These new homes
would be let at affordable rents and discounted if
appropriate.  
·      
To approve a capital
budget of £2,000,000 for the delivery of the Step Down
/ Move On Accommodation scheme (West of Somerset). This scheme
would deliver 16 new homes for vulnerable adults or children such
as low complex homeless or children leaving care. The homes would
be built to low carbon standards in excess of building regulations
and use Modern Methods of construction. The proposal was to finance
this scheme using a combination of Better Care Capital Funding and
the remainder funded by borrowing. These new homes would be let at
affordable rents and discounted if
appropriate.  
·      
To approve a capital
budget of £2,615,430 for the delivery of the Taunton
Road scheme (North of Somerset). This scheme would deliver 11
new homes that would be built to low carbon standards in excess of
building regulations. The proposal was to finance this using an
appropriate combination of up to 40% subsidy from RTB receipts and
the remainder funded by borrowing. These new homes would be let at
affordable rents.  
·      
To approve a
supplementary budget of £656,760 for the current
Cricketers scheme (North of Somerset) to fund the projected
overspend to complete the scheme. This scheme was delivering 16 new
homes and would be built to low carbon standards in excess of
building regulations. The proposal was to finance this using Homes
England capital grant, Hinkley Point C funding and the remainder
funded by borrowing. These new homes would be let at affordable
rents.  
·      
To approve a
supplementary budget of £375,000 for the current
Oxford Inn scheme (West of Somerset) to fund the projected
overspend to complete the scheme. This scheme was delivering 8 new
homes would be built to low carbon standards in excess of building
regulations. The proposal was to finance this using an appropriate
combination of up to 40% subsidy from RTB receipts and the
remainder funded by borrowing. These new homes would be let at
affordable rents.   
·      
To approve a budget
return of £20,274,207 for the North Taunton Woolaway
Project Phase D (West of
Somerset).  
·      
To approve a budget
return of £10,499,189 for the Zero Carbon Affordable
Homes scheme(West of Somerset).  
·      
To approve a budget
return of £950,000 for the Tuckerton Lane scheme
(North of Somerset).  
·      
To approve a budget
return of £500,000 for the Purchase of Properties for
RTB scheme (North of Somerset). 
5)  
Medium Term Financial
Plan 2024/25 – 2029/30 (see section
9) 
·      
To note the reviewed and
updated assumptions in the 2024/25 5-Year Medium Term Financial
Plan (MTFP).  
·      
To approve the transfer
of four dwellings from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue
Account and delegate authority to the Lead Member for Communities,
Housing and Culture and the Section 151 Officer to approve the
final land transfer value. 
·      
To approve an increase
in the HRA’s strategic approach to generate capital receipts
of approximately £1.225m through the sale of uneconomical
assets on the open market.  
6)  
30-Year Business Plan
(see section 8) 
·      
The updated assumptions
and figures in the 2024 HRA 30-Year Business Plan as summarised in
section 7.  
·      
That members note the
challenges and next steps for the HRA and landlord
services.