The report sought the recommendations of the Environment and Housing Management Committee on the proposed rent levels for 2017/18. 

The recommendations would be considered by the Policy, Finance and Resources Committee when the final recommendation would be made as part of the budget setting process.  The final decision would be made by Ordinary Council on the 1^st March 2017.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Hossack and SECONDED by Cllr Poppy to approve the recommendation in the report with the removal of recommendation 2.5. 

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that Members agreed:

1.    To decrease rent by 1% from April 2017 and for the next two years. 

2.    That Shared Ownership rent be increased by CPI + 1%.

3.    To freeze the proposed Services Charges at 2016/17 levels as outlined within the report, which would then be incorporated within the 2017/18 Budget, and that a further report be presented to this Committee providing details of the outcome of the review of the current charging policies, which would then inform the 2017/18 changing levels. 

4.    To apply the formula rent to all new tenancies from April 2017/18.

5.    To note the possibility of changing market rents to households with more that £30,000 annual income.  

Reason for recommendations

The recommendation was to follow the guideline 1% decrease for 2016/17 and the following two years as this was what had been set by Government. 

The following assumptions had been taken into consideration for the Rent Setting for 2017:

·         The financial viability of the HRA business plan.

·         Provision for a repairs capital programme of £36m for 2017/18 pending the results of the stock condition survey.

·         Development fund for new homes £500K.

·         No allowance had been made for growth bids.

·         Affordability for tenants.