Agenda and decisions

Salford City Council - Record of Decision

I, Paul Dennett, City Mayor, in exercise of the powers contained within the City Council constitution, do hereby approve;-

• An increase of 2% for rents in 2017/18 for housing stock owned by the City Council.  The same level increase to be applied to garage rents and caravan site fees.

• Adjustments to service charges to reflect the actual cost of providing those services whilst recognising that a cap (based on 2016/17 charging levels) has been placed on the element of the security charge that covers repairs and servicing costs.

The reasons are the 2% increase in rental charges reflects CPI at September 2016 plus 1% which reflects the formula set by Government.  Service charges have been adjusted to reflect the actual costs of providing the service.  However, it has been agreed to cap the element of the security charge relating to repairs and servicing costs to reflect concerns raised by residents. 

Options considered and rejected were: A number of factors were considered in setting the rent and service charges.  Good practice requires a comparison of the costs of service provision with the income generated from service charges with the aim of ensuring that the charging policy is fair and equitable and that general rental income is not subsidising the cost of services to individual tenants.  During 2016/17, Pendleton Together have reviewed the current charges and have proposed revised charges based upon actual costs.

Assessment of Risk:  Low

Source of funding: Rents and service charges are accounted for within the ring-fenced Housing Revenue Account.

Legal advice: The Council is required to set a balanced HRA budget

Financial advice: Report prepared by the finance team.

The following documents have been used to assist the decision process: 

Contact Officer:  Paul Hutchings         Tel No: 0161 793 2574

FOR COMMITTEE SERVICES USE ONLY

This decision was published on 13^th February 2017.

This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 20^th February 2017, unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.

The officers consider that the following items contain exempt information as provided for in the Local Government Access to Information Act and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The City Mayor is asked to agree the necessary resolutions excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of this item. At the time this agenda is published no representations have been that this part of the meeting should be open to the public.

No items.