Agenda item

1.     That the HRA Outturn figures for 2021/22 be noted, as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 of report CAB3354.

2.     That the carry forward of £0.038m of HRA revenue funding from 2021/22 be approved, as detailed in Paragraph 11.4 of the report.

3.     That the extension of the current tenancy support programme into a third year 2023/24 be approved. Funded by the drawdown of the remaining unallocated funding for welfare support of £88,000, together with the underspend of £144,006 from 2021/22 as detailed in Paragraph 2.3 of report CAB3354.

4.     That the Housing capital programme outturn for Major Works and New Build be noted, as detailed in paragraphs 11.5 to 11.8 and appendices 3 & 4 of report CAB3354.

5.    That the funding of the 2021/22 HRA capital programme be approved, as detailed in paragraphs 11.10 & 11.11 and appendix 5 of report CAB3354.

6.    That the re-forecast capital programme budget of £38.369m for 2022/23 be approved, as detailed in paragraphs 11.12 & 11.13 and appendix 6 & 7 of report CAB3354 that takes account of potential programme slippage.

Councillor Tod introduced the report on behalf of Councillor Ferguson and Cabinet noted that the report had been considered at Scrutiny Committee on 13 July 2022 which had raised no issues for Cabinet’s attention.

David Light (TACT) and Ian Tait addressed Cabinet during public participation as summarised briefly below.

David Light

Stated that the Strategic Director would be attending a full TACT meeting the following week to assist with the understanding of the report as TACT did not feel able to comment until further explanation had been received.

Ian Tait

Spoke in support of the proposal to establish a Cabinet Housing Committee, emphasising the importance of affordable housing provision.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillors Wallace and Horrill addressed Cabinet as summarised briefly below.

Councillor Wallace

Expressed concern that the budget for the climate emergency programme had not been completely spent for the previous two years and there was now a proposal to reduce it for future years.  However, delays to the programme would had a significant impact on tenants in terms of energy bills and queried how this position could be reversed.  Considered that £50m was insufficient to retrofit the entire council stock.  Highlighted the underspend in both the major repairs and improvements and conversions budgets and asked how these could be used to accelerate the energy efficiency improvements to the housing stock.

Councillor Horrill

Had raised a number of questions at Scrutiny Committee which she would not repeat.  Raised concerns about the significant number of underspends and queried whether these were due to a lack of sufficient resources within the HRA team.  In particular, the new build variance should be urgently addressed if the council was to meet its new homes target.

The Strategic Director responded to the comments made. A number of factors had impacted on the commencement of the retrofit programme and the council’s voids contractor, Osbornes has now been formally appointed to undertake these works.  The budget for 2022/23 has been revised to £600k, although officers were reviewing options for increasing the pace and investment in the programme, together with also preparing a bid for additional government funding.  In addition, he explained the different reasons for some of the HRA underspend and confirmed that an update on the new homes programme would be considered by the new Cabinet Housing Committee.

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

RESOLVED:

1.         That the HRA Outturn figures for 2021/22 be noted, as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report.

2.         That the carry forward of £0.038m of HRA revenue funding from 2021/22 be approved, as detailed in Paragraph 11.4 of the report.

3.         That the extension of the current tenancy support programme into a third year 2023/24 be approved. Funded by the drawdown of the remaining unallocated funding for welfare support of £88,000, together with the underspend of £144,006 from 2021/22 as detailed in Paragraph 2.3 of the report.

4.         That the Housing capital programme outturn for Major Works and New Build be noted, as detailed in paragraphs 11.5 to 11.8 and appendices 3 & 4 of the report.

5.         That the funding of the 2021/22 HRA capital programme be approved, as detailed in paragraphs 11.10 & 11.11 and appendix 5 of the report.

6.       That the re-forecast capital programme budget of £38.369m for 2022/23 be approved, as detailed in paragraphs 11.12 & 11.13 and appendix 6 & 7 of the report that takes account of potential programme slippage.