The Housing and Inclusive Economy Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss the proposed Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for 2026/27, including rent and service charge increases. Other key topics included an update on the management of the council's commercial and investment properties, a review of planning performance and enforcement activities, and the committee's forward plan and action tracker.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget 2026/27

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to focus on the proposed Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for 2026/27. This included proposals for rent and service charge increases. It was recommended that HRA dwelling rents increase by 4.8%, which is the maximum allowable increase under the Regulator of Social Housing's (RSH) Rent Standard, equating to an average weekly increase of £6.41. The report also outlined proposals for increases in tenant service charges, garage rents, traveller's rents, and sheltered accommodation rents and service charges, all aiming for full cost recovery where applicable.

Additionally, the report detailed proposed increases for temporary accommodation rent charges by 14% above Local Housing Allowance (LHA) levels. The committee was also to review the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and the Capital Programme for the HRA over the next 10 years, which includes significant investment in housing stock. The report highlighted the financial pressures on the HRA due to inflation, rising interest rates, and increased regulatory requirements, such as those arising from the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Building Safety Act 2022.

The committee was asked to review the information within the report and make recommendations as required. The report also included the London Borough of Waltham Forest Rent Setting Policy, which details the principles for calculating rents and service charges, and an Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) concerning the proposed budget changes.

Commercial and Investment Property Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the current and proposed activities to improve the management of the council's commercial non-operational properties. This followed a restructure of the Commercial, Investment & Strategic Property team in 2025. The report aimed to provide an overview of efforts to increase total rental income by reducing vacancies and implementing outstanding rent reviews and lease renewals. The target was to increase the current £4.7 million income by £1 million by the end of 2026/27. The report also detailed strategies for marketing vacant units, managing squatters, utilising meanwhile uses for vacant premises, and addressing rent arrears. Key performance indicators (KPIs) for income, vacancies, arrears, and outstanding rent reviews were to be produced monthly.

Planning Performance and Enforcement

An overview of planning performance, timeliness, appeal decisions, and planning enforcement was scheduled for discussion. The council receives approximately 3,200 planning applications annually, generating significant income from planning fees and pre-application services. The report provided data on the speed and quality of decision-making for major and minor development applications, comparing performance against government targets. It also detailed appeal outcomes, noting a high success rate for dismissed appeals.

The report also covered the transfer of the Planning Enforcement function to the Place Directorate in July 2024. Since the transfer, the service has been restructured with permanent staff, leading to improved efficiencies, enhanced quality of investigations, and a reduction in open enforcement cases. The updated Enforcement Policy was also to be discussed.

The Scrutiny Report

The committee was invited to review the Forward Plan for the remainder of the municipal year and comment on the Action Tracker and Recommendation Tracker from the previous meeting. The Forward Plan outlines the committee's work programme, including statutory reports, major decisions, and policy areas of interest. Suggestions for items for the 2025-26 cycle were welcomed. The report also listed key decisions falling under the committee's remit that were scheduled to be presented to Cabinet.

The Action Tracker captures all actions required of officers by the committee, providing updates on progress, while the Recommendation Tracker details conclusions on how services should change or improve. The committee was asked to review and approve these documents.