Gosport Borough Council Housing Board Meeting

Apologies for non attendance were received from Councillor Durrant following the meeting.

There were none

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2023 were signed as a true and correct record.

There were none

There were none

Consideration was given to a report by the Borough Treasurer and Housing Services manager considering the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan Financial Model and providing updates for members on the latest information with regard to policy changes that impact directly on local authority housing finance services.

The Head of Housing Services advised members that although it is in the final checking stages of the process, the contract has not yet been awarded.

Members were reassured that Officers hoped this would happen imminently, and were optomistic the project would meet its start deadline of this spring. Members acknowledged that the chosen contractors were perfect for the project and therefore hoped that nothing would prevent them starting on time.

Members wished to recognise the amount of work that it has taken to produce the report and the recommendations and to thank Tim Hoskins for his role in providing this data.

RESOLVED: That the Housing Board recommends to Full Council that :

i)     That Council Dwelling rents increase by CPI + 1% (7.7%) as set out in the Social Housing rent guidance.

ii)    The revised HRA Business Plan Financial Model extract (Appendix A) and associated 2023/24 revised budget and 2024/25 Budget (Appendix B) is agreed.

iii)   Service charges decrease on average by 2.1%

iv)   The rent for all garages increases in line with inflation as agreed in the garage renewal strategy.