Issue - meetings

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

It was resolved to approve the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan 2024-2054.

The report of the Head of Housing Services incorporating the HRA Business Plan 2024 to 2054 was presented for the Executive’s consideration and approval.

The HRA Business Plan was presented by Councillor Gary Pritchard, Portfolio Member for Children, Youth and Housing Services as a requirement by Welsh Government as part of the process of securing the Council’s Major Repairs Allowance of approximately £2.7m for 2024-25. The Plan contributes towards the fundamental themes of the Council’s Corporate Plan with the main contribution being towards ensuring that everyone has the right to call somewhere home, social care and wellbeing and economic development. The Plan refers to the new Wales Housing Quality Standards 2023 published in November 2023 by Welsh Government and affirms the Council’s commitment to achieving the new standards having been the second council in Wales to complete the original WHQS 2012.

The Head of Housing Services confirmed that the focus for the coming year will be on planning the approach to meeting the new WHQS 2023. A stock condition survey of the Council’s housing stock was completed in 2023/24 on the basis of access to 88% of the properties which establishes a baseline in preparation for the new standard. Work will also be undertaken on producing Target Energy Pathways for the Council’s housing to improve the energy efficiency of its homes. The need for social housing on Anglesey has reached an all-time high with 704 applicants on the housing waiting list and while the Council currently owns and manages 3,981 housing units it is committed to increasing its social housing stock to respond to the local housing challenge and meet the local housing need. A sum of £17m has been included in the 2024/25 budget for developing new council housing and buying back former council houses on Anglesey along with £13m for programmed repairs, £1m for energy and decarbonisation works and £5.7m for responsive repairs. Rental income of £23m is expected.

Councillor Dyfed Wyn Jones, Vice-Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee summarised the issues discussed by the Committee in scrutinising the HRA Business Plan at its 12 March 2024 meeting as the affordability of the Plan, the challenges in achieving WHQS 2023, the percentage of the Council’s housing that is suitable for the 21^st century and the rationale for the 30-year Plan timescale. Having considered these matters and the responses to them the Committee had resolved to recommend the HRA Business Plan 2024-2054 to the Executive.

The Executive’s Members recognised the challenges facing the Council in seeking to meet both increasing housing need on the Island and the requirements of WHQS 2023 and they were appreciative of the Housing Service’s work and ongoing commitment to achieve continuous improvement for the homes and services provided across Anglesey as well as to invest in and deliver new council housing on the Island.

It was resolved to approve the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan 2024-2054.