Issue - meetings

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

It was resolved –

·        To approve the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan 2019-2049, and in particular, the HRA Budget for 2019-20 for submission to Welsh Government.

·        To approve the proposed Housing Capital Programme for 2019-2020 as stated within the Capital Budget.

·        To delegate to the Housing Portfolio Member, the Head of Housing Services and the Head of Function (Resources)/ Section 151 Officer the authority to agree the format and final wording of the 2019-2049 Business Plan, prior to its submission to Welsh Government.

The report of the Head of Housing Services incorporating the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan for 2019 to 2049 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Housing and Supporting Communities reported that the HRA Business Plan forms the primary tool for financial planning for the delivery and management of the Council’s housing stock. In particular the Business Plan demonstrates how the Council brings all its stock to Welsh Housing Quality Standards (there remains some properties that are classified as “acceptable fails”); how the Council intends to maintain and exceed WHQS and the investment needed to increase the housing stock. The Council, through its HRA, owns and manages 3,819 properties and just over 700 garages across the Island. Over the course of the Business Plan, the stock will increase to over 5,000 units.

The Portfolio Member said that the HRA Business Plan puts forward a positive vision for the future of the Council’s housing stock and he commended the Business Plan to the Executive.

The Head of Housing Services updated the Executive by confirming that there had been some changes in the figures with these having been circulated to Members during the week. The first year of the Business Pan is based on the 2019/20 budget which was approved by the Council in February, 2019. In the period since February a reconciliation of the figures has shown that some elements have slipped resulting in some changes specifically to the figures for new build in Year 1 of the Plan resulting in the inclusion of an additional £2m for Year 1. This has entailed a slight increase in the level of borrowing which in Year 1 will be covered by the HRA reserves.  The Business Plan is intended to demonstrate the viability of the Housing Revenue Account over the 30 year period with the priority being to maintain and surpass the Welsh Housing Quality Standards and to increase the housing stock thereby providing a boost to the local economy as the Council puts into effect its housing development programme.

It was resolved –

•           To approve the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan 2019-2049, and in particular, the HRA Budget for 2019-20 for submission to Welsh Government.

•           To approve the proposed Housing Capital Programme for 2019-2020 as stated within the Capital Budget.

•           To delegate to the Housing Portfolio Member, the Head of Housing Services and the Head of Function (Resources)/ Section 151 Officer the authority to agree the format and final wording of the 2019-2049 Business Plan, prior to its submission to Welsh Government.