Agenda item

Housing Repairs Budget 2019/20

Decision:

*RESOLVED –

1. That the Housing Repairs Budget of £8.355m for 2019/20, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the officer’s report, be approved.

2. That delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director - Commercial Services to transfer funds between responsive repairs budget heads in order to effectively manage and respond to fluctuations in tenant-led or weather dependent repairs.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS

1. To permit the required maintenance of the Housing Stock.

2. To contribute to the delivery of a balanced and sustainable Housing Revenue Account, which is self- financing in the longer term.

3. To support the Council’s vision and priorities within the Council Plan.

Minutes:

The Director of Finance and Resources and Assistant Director – Commercial Services submitted a report recommending for approval the Housing Repairs Budget for 2018/19.

During 2016/17, a detailed review of the way in which the Council delivers future repairs and maintenance programmes was undertaken. As a result, actions were put in place to ensure the long term viability of the Housing Revenue Account. These actions included reducing the Housing Repairs Budget by £500k in 2017/18 and again in 2018/19, and making changes to the tenant repair obligations and repair response times.

Actual savings in the housing repair budgets had exceeded the £500k target for both financial years. This had provided some mitigation against changes in national housing and welfare policy, and will contribute to ensuring the HRA Business Plan remains balanced, sustainable and self-financing in the longer term.