Issue - decisions

Committee Budget 2022/23 Report

08/02/2022 - Committee General Fund Revenue and Capital Budgets 2022/23 and Housing Revenue Account Budgets 2022/23

Upon the invitation of the Chair, theInterim Group Head of Corporate Support and Section 151 Officer presented the report which asked the Committee to consider and recommend its revenue budget for inclusion in the 2022/23 revenue budget and draft capital budget for inclusion in the overall capital programme, which would be submitted to the Policy and Finance Committee on 10 February 2022. It was explained that Policy and Finance Committee would consider the overall revenue budget and overall capital programme for 2022/23 to make recommendations to Full Council on 23 February 2022 on the budget to be set and level of Council Tax for the District for 2022/23 and on the overall capital programme to be set for 2022/23.

 

It was further explained that this Committee must also consider and recommend its Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue budget and draft Housing Revenue Account Capital budget for inclusion in the overall capital programme, both of which would also be submitted to the Policy and Finance Committee on 10 February 2022 with the intention of a recommendation going to Full Council on 23 February 2022 on the budget to be set and level of rents to be charged for 2022/23.

 

Members then took part in a full debate on the item where a number of points were raised including:

·       whether housing and garage rent figures included agreed rent increases

·       future investment in Arun’s properties

·       grants and contributions within the Housing Strategy

·       sheltered accommodation provision

·       the increasing costs for the IT system

·       investment in the Arun Leisure Centre

 

The Interim Group Head of Corporate Support and Section 151 Officer provided Members with responses to all points raised during the debate. It was confirmed that the rent figures did include the rent increase and for housing this would be CPI + 1% (i.e. 4.1%) and that stock development was included in the capital budget. The Group Head of Residential Services confirmed that reports would be coming to future meetings of the Committee on a number of the points raised.

 

The recommendation was then proposed by Councillor Pendleton and seconded by Councillor Gregory. By unanimous vote,

 

The Committee

 

RESOLVED - To

 

a)    Agree on the 2022/23 General Fund Revenue Budget as illustrated in Appendix A of this report;

 

b)    Agree on the 2022/23 list of uncommitted growth items as illustrated in Appendix B of this report;

 

c)    Agree on the 2022/23 HRA Revenue Budget set out in Appendix C of this report;

 

d)    Recommend HRA rents for 2022/23 are increased by 4.1% (CPI plus 1%) in accordance with the provisions of the rent standard;

 

e)    Recommend that HRA garage rents are increased by 5% to give a standard charge of £13.58 per week (excluding VAT) and heating and water/sewerage charges be increased on a scheme by scheme basis, with the aim of balancing costs with income;

 

f)      Agree on the General Fund Capital Programme as illustrated in Appendix D of this report;

 

g)    Agree on the 2022/23 HRA Capital Programme as illustrated in Appendix E of this report; and

 

RECOMMEND TO POLICY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

 

h)    That the General Fund Revenue Budget, list of growth items, General Fund Capital Programme, HRA Revenue Budget and HRA Capital Programme be included in the overall General Fund Budget when considering the overall budgets on 10 February 2022.