Issue - meetings

1.    That the HRA Outturn figures for 2024/25 be noted as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 of report CAB3516.

2.    That the Housing capital programme outturn for Major Works and New Build be noted as detailed in paragraphs 10.5 and 10.6 and Appendices 3 & 4 of the report.

3.   That the funding of the 2024/25 HRA capital programme be noted as detailed in paragraphs 10.7 to 10.10 and Appendix 5 of the report.

4.   That the reforecast capital programme budget of £48.8m for 2025/26 be approved, as detailed in paragraphs 10.11 to 10.15 and Appendix 6 & 7 of the report, that takes into account potential programme slippage and the reprofiling of expected spend.

Councillor Reach introduced the report and set out that it had been discussed at Scrutiny Committee on 8 September where members had made a number of general comments for consideration by Cabinet, as set out in the draft minutes of the committee which had been circulated to all those present at Cabinet.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Horrill addressed Cabinet as summarised below.

Councillor Horrill welcomed the cross-political cooperation with cabinet members and officers.  She expressed concern about the Housing team's stability with recent changes in staffing and the impact on the provision of new homes, specifically mentioning delays in acquiring properties at Kings Barton.  She also questioned the budgetary impact of compliance costs, particularly for fire safety, and advocated for more robust, joined-up IT systems to address tenants' needs.  Finally, she emphasised the importance of refocusing on delivery to avoid future project delays.

Councillor Reach together with the Strategic Director responded to the comments made including providing an update on the purchase of new homes at Kings Barton and the provision of a new IT system.

The Cabinet Member and Strategic Director also responded to comments made at Scrutiny Committee including advising that an update on the Swedish Cottages project would be submitted to Cabinet and Scrutiny Committee in November.  In addition, the application to the Local Authority Housing Fund had been successful with £900k being awarded which would be used to acquire four properties. 

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons set out in the report and outlined above.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the HRA Outturn figures for 2024/25 be noted as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report.

2.         That the Housing capital programme outturn for Major Works and New Build be noted as detailed in paragraphs 10.5 and 10.6 and Appendices 3 & 4 of the report.

3.         That the funding of the 2024/25 HRA capital programme be noted as detailed in paragraphs 10.7 to 10.10 and Appendix 5 of the report.

4.     That the reforecast capital programme budget of £48.8m for 2025/26 be approved, as detailed in paragraphs 10.11 to 10.15 and Appendix 6 & 7 of the report, that takes into account potential programme slippage and the reprofiling of expected spend.

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that the committee scrutinise and comment on the proposals within the attached draft cabinet report, ref CAB3516 which is to be considered by cabinet at its meeting on the 10 September 2025.

Councillor Mark Reach, Cabinet Member for Good Homes, introduced the report, Housing Revenue Account Outturn 2024/2025, the introduction included the following points:

1.    The report would be considered by Cabinet on 10 September 2025.

2.    It outlined the financial performance of the HRA and the capital programme in 2024-25.

3.    Approval was sought for a revised budget forecast for the 2025-26 HRA capital programme as set out in detail within the report.

The committee was recommended to scrutinise and comment on the proposals within the attached draft cabinet report, ref CAB3516, which was to be considered by cabinet at its meeting on 10 September 2025. The committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the report. In summary, the following matters were raised.

1.    Clarification was sought regarding the catering provision at Chesil Lodge and whether full cost recovery had been achieved or was planned.

2.    Confirmation was requested that the £300,000 received from the sale of nutrient credits would be used for upgrading wastewater treatment plants.

3.    A question was raised about the possibility of using PfSH funding to accelerate the upgrade of wastewater treatment works.

4.    An explanation was sought for why it appeared that only part of a £9.8 million slippage was being moved forward in the budget.

5.    Questions were asked about the progress toward achieving 100% of housing stock at EPC C by 2030, including the previous year's level and whether the council was on track to meet the target.

6.    An update was requested on the application to the Local Authority Housing Fund, as the report referenced decisions made in July 2025.

7.    Clarification was sought on the procurement of the Swedish cottages contract.

These points were responded to by Councillor Mark Reach, Cabinet Member for Good Homes, and Simon Hendey, Strategic Director, accordingly.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the report be noted.

2.    That cabinet considers the committee’s comments raised during the discussion of the item.