Decision Maker: Housing Policy Committee

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: December 4, 2025

Purpose: The Housing Revenue Account Business Plan needs to be reviewed each year and updated to set budgets and charges for the year ahead and to provide an updated 5-year plan and 30-year affordability profile.

Content: 10.1 The Committee considered a report of the Director of Housing which set out the 2026/27 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan.     10.2 RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Housing Policy Committee:- (a)  Notes that the HRA Business Plan and Revenue Budget 2026/27 and 5 year capital investment programme as set out in the Financial Appendices in Appendix A of the report, will be considered by the Strategy and Resources Committee in January 2026, and then recommended to Full Council for approval in February 2026; (b)  Notes that once the HRA Business Plan is approved by Full Council, the Housing Policy Committee will be responsible for monitoring how well the plan is being delivered; (c)  Notes the recommendation to increase council housing rents, including temporary accommodation by 4.8% from April 2026 in line with the Regulator of Social Housing’s Rent Standard of September 2025’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) + 1%; (d)  Notes the recommendation to increase any of our council homes set at a social rent and are yet to achieve formula rent from April 2026, in line with any Rent Convergence policy that Government has indicated it will announce in January 2026 (up to £2 per week); (e)  Notes the recommendation to increase rents for garage plots and sites by 4.8% from April 2026; (f)    Notes the recommendation to increase the weekly District Heating standing charge from £4.90 to £5.50 from April 2026; (g)  Notes the recommendation to increase the sheltered housing service charge by 3.8% from April 2026; (h)  Notes the recommendation to increase the burglar alarm charge by 3.8% from April 2026; (i)    Notes the recommendation to increase the furnished accommodation charge by 3.8% from April 2026; and (j)    Agrees to consult on how to implement an increase in the Citywide Care Alarm charge for tenants in Council Older Person’s Independent Living (OPIL) schemes so that it aligns with the rate currently applied to other residents.         10.3 Reasons for Decision     10.3.1 This report and its recommendations, set out the scale of the challenge ahead, the limited resources available and the difficult decisions that now need to be taken to deliver a balanced HRA budget for 2026/27 and for the overall 30-year viability.         10.4 Alternatives Considered and Rejected     10.4.1 The Council is required to both set a balanced in year HRA budget and to ensure that in-year income and expenditure are balanced over 30 years. No other alternatives were considered