Agenda and minutes

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at the meeting.

The meeting was webcast on the Council’s website.

There were no apologies for absence.

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member's judgment of the public interest and if this interest affects their financial position or the financial position of a person or body as described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct and/or if it relates to the determining of any approval, consent, licence, permission or registration in relation to them or any person or body described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct.

Councillor Egan declared an interest in item 4, Housing Rent Increase, by nature of being on the board of Homes for Haringey.

(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.

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 22^nd 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:

1. That the proposed rent increase for 2008/09 be noted.

2. 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.

3. That its concern with the consultation process and the low level of response be expressed.

4. 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.

5. That an information pack detailing the reasons behind the increase together with information on encouraging benefit take-up be provided to Councillors.

6. That the spirit of the resolutions by the Residents Finance Panel as contained in the report be echoed.

7. 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.

8. That the committee commend Officers for the record levels of rent collection, and encourage them to continue the improvement.