Issue - items at meetings - Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme 2012-15

Report of the Strategic Director: Place (copy attached).

RESOLVED: That Cabinet approves the capital programme budget of £27.229 million and financing for 2012/13 as set out in paragraph 4.1 of the report.

191.1    Councillor Wakefield introduced the report which sought approval for the 2012/13 Capital Programme and detailed a provisional Capital Programme for the following two years, 2013/14 and 2014/15 for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).  She stated that the intention was to improve the quality of provision and tackle inequality by providing more suitable homes.  It was hoped to bring back over seventy long-term empty properties into use and by the end of 2013 to have all homes at the Decent Homes Standard.  The challenge ahead was to address the housing shortage in the city and to build new homes as well as bring others back into use.

191.2    Councillor Mitchell welcomed the report and was pleased to see the separate programme to deal with mould and damp problems which was a concern for tenants.

191.3    Councillor G. Theobald referred to the feed in tariff scheme and queried why it had previously projected an income of £9m but was now listed as having a loss of £8m.

191.4    Councillor J. Kitcat stated that the Government had changed the process for the scheme which prevented collective bodies such as the council from being able to take advantage of the scheme and install solar panels.  He stated that he would ensure Councillor Theobald received a written explanation as to how the situation had changed and its impact for the council.

191.5    RESOLVED: That the capital programme budget of £27.229 million and financing for 2012/13 as set out in paragraph 4.1 of the report be approved.

Report of Strategic Director Place & Director of Finance (copy attached).

 78.1   The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director Place and the Director of Finance that sought approval for the 2012/13 capital programme and provided a provisional capital programme for the following two years, 2013/14 and 2014/15, for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).  The report took into consideration the latest resources available and commissioning investment priorities.  The Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) related to the council’s landlord duties in respect of approximately 12,250 properties and 2,250 leasehold properties. 

78.2    The Chair informed the Committee that the report outlined proposals for £74million investment in the city’s housing over the next 3 years.  As well as some of the areas such as building new homes and bringing all council empty properties back into use, the Chair was pleased to see that the report reflected the discussions that took place with tenants at the city assembly budget workshop last November through:

• increased investment in the lift replacement programme
• increased investment in adaptations
• a new approach to Estate Development budget, with Mears working on a not-for-profit model which would increase the money available for tenant projects
• money prioritised for making the city’s homes and blocks more energy efficient, through over-cladding, new energy efficient lighting, and new efficient boiler systems.

78.3    Stewart Gover referred to paragraph 5.22 of the report which related to building new council homes.  He thought it a good idea to demolish some vacant garage sites to enable new housing units to be built.  He suggested maisonettes would be popular.

78.4   Stewart Gover referred to Appendix 1 of the report, which set out the HRA Capital Programme 2012-15 expenditure.  No mention had been made of Ainsworth House. The Head of Finance – Business Engagement explained that Ainsworth House had been included in the 2011/12 Capital Programme.  Appendix 1 set out the new budget for new schemes.  Councillor Mears mentioned that one of the reasons for the delay in work on Ainsworth House had been due to asbestos and she thanked the Head of Housing and Social Inclusion for the report on asbestos.

78.5    Councillor Mears asked for an update on how much money would be available from 31 March.  She referred to paragraph 5.20 of the report relating to solar panels. She considered this was a disappointing story.  The Government had been successfully challenged in court and the consultation did not end until March. 

78.6   Councillor Mears made the point that sensor lighting would be inappropriate in high rise flats where people would have to negotiate pitch black landings.  

78.7         The Head of Housing and Social Inclusion explained that there was presently a process to upgrade the efficiency of lighting.  Officers were looking specifically on the efficiency of sensor lighting. 

78.8   John Melson also regretted the loss of the solar panel offer.  Councillor Randall stated that there had been a lot of uncertainty about the contract and many firms had gone out of business.  The Strategic Director Place hoped that there would be a solution to this problem in six months time.

78.9    Barry Kent mentioned that LEDs were like a normal light bulb but only used 10% of the electricity.  The Chair agreed that LEDs were very energy efficient.  Officers would investigate the most suitable lighting to install.  The Chair stated that she did not want tenants to have to negotiate dark landings. 

78.10  RESOLVED – (1) That the Housing Management Consultative Committee recommend that Cabinet approves the capital programme budget of £27,229 million and financing for 2012/13 as set out in paragraph 4.1.