106 Housing Rent Increase 2008/09
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(Report of the Chief Financial
Officer & the Director of Urban Environment) To present details of the proposed increase in
housing rents from April 2008 including details of the
government’s rent restructuring scheme and housing
subsidy.
In
accordance with Standing Order 32.6, no other business shall be
considered.
Minutes:
The
committee considered a report on the setting of council housing
rents for 2008/09. The housing rent
increase element of the financial planning budget package was
referred to the committee at the meeting of the Cabinet of January
22nd 2008. The report
received covered the way rents were calculated under the
Government’s rent restructuring formula, housing subsidy
entitlement and its link to rent setting. It
also outlined procedures for assisting tenants experiencing
difficulty in paying their rent.
Following discussion of
the report at the committee, the following resolutions were
made.
RESOLVED:
- That the proposed
rent increase for 2008/09 be noted.
- That the Chair of
Overview & Scrutiny Committee write to Government Ministers to
express its disappointment at the negative effect that the rent
restructuring formula has had in Haringey, particularly the
withdrawal of Government funding to contain rent increases to 5%
and the late timing of the announcement which provided inadequate
time for planning by the Council.
- That its concern with
the consultation process and the low level of response be
expressed.
- That Council Officers
and specifically Homes for Haringey Officers, do all in their power
to encourage benefit take-up, particularly amongst Council tenants
who are not currently in receipt of benefit, including a
pro-active, outreach-based approach by Tenancy
Officers.
- That an information
pack detailing the reasons behind the increase together with
information on encouraging benefit take-up be provided to
Councillors.
- That the spirit of
the resolutions by the Residents Finance Panel as contained in the
report be echoed.
- That initiatives that
may ameliorate some of the impact of the rent increase be
investigated by officers e.g. reducing water rate charges by the
introduction of water meters.
- That the committee
commend Officers for the record levels of rent collection, and
encourage them to continue the improvement.