Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 196 KBVenue: Alexandra House, 10 Station Road, Wood Green, London, N22
Contact: Richard Plummer Committees Manager Email: richard.plummer@haringey.gov.uk
| No. | Item |
|---|---|
|
FILMING AT MEETINGS Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on. By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.
The Chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council. Minutes: The Cabinet Member referred to the notice of filming at meetings and this information was noted.
|
|
|
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: There were none.
|
|
|
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST A member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a prejudicial interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered:
(i) must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest becomes apparent, and (ii) may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must withdraw from the meeting room.
A member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which is not registered in the Register of Members’ Interests or the subject of a pending notification must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28 days of the disclosure.
Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and prejudicial interests are defined at Paragraphs 5-7 and Appendix A of the Members’ Code of Conduct Minutes: There were none.
|
|
|
URGENT BUSINESS The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of Urgent Business. (Late items of Urgent Business will be considered under the agenda item where they appear). Minutes: There were no declarations of interest.
|
|
|
DEPUTATIONS / PETITIONS / QUESTIONS Minutes: There were no declarations of interest.
|
|
|
LICENCE FEES ('RENTS') AND SERVICE CHARGES FOR COUNCIL OWNED SUPPORTED ACCOMMODATION Additional documents:
Minutes: The Council was the landlord of five short-term supported housing schemes of which three (Olive Morris Court, Carrol Court, and Hale Wharf) were held in the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and two were held in the General Fund (GF). Given the nature of the General Fund schemes, their addresses are not provided in this report but are referred to here as Scheme O and Scheme B.
The schemes were known as short-term Supported Housing as residents were offered these for short-term placements of up to 2 years. These differ from long-term/life-time housing such as Sheltered Housing, Good Neighbour Schemes or Housing First tenancies. Although the rent setting approach was the same for long-term tenancies, these tenancies were excluded from the report as they were set as part of the Housing Revenue Account budget.
The accommodation in the short-term HRA schemes consisted of 32 self-contained properties with a tenure of either a licence or non-secure tenancy. Conversely, accommodation in the GF schemes was provided in 36 rooms with shared facilities. These rooms were all held under licence.
While the schemes held in the HRA had their rents and service charges updated annually as part of the HRA rent setting process. However, the GF schemes had not been updated and so had fallen behind.
The report therefore sought to confirm the charging policy applied for both HRA and GF short-term Supported Housing is to - Align Licence Fees (aka Rents) for all short-term Supported Housing at Formula Rent + 10% as set out in the Rent Standard - Fully recharge the costs of any services provided which are not part of the licence fee (Rent). These were in-turn split into Housing Benefit eligible service and personal services. 1.6 The report also sought to update the charges for the GF properties for 2026/27. The HRA charges for the year will be updated by the budget papers.
The progress for future proposals would be continued annually as part of a fees and charges report.
The Cabinet Member RESOLVED
Reasons for decision
Formalising the Licence Fees and Service Charges in one document provides clarity for residents on how the charges are set and confirms the common charging methodology applied to all schemes.
Updating the charges will also provide a standard approach to these in practice.
Alternative options considered
Not formalising the Licence Fees and Service Charges
This option was rejected as this is not transparent, and General Fund rents would continue to be outside the annual rent increase process.
Not updating the General Fund Licence Fees and Service Charges
This option was rejected as this would maintain the differences in the fees charged for similar services.
|