Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director Finance.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council notes and approves:-

1)    the supplementary budget of £50,000 as detailed in paragraph 8.5 of the report;

2)    the HRA financial position for 2023/24 financial year;

3)    the revision of the HRA Capital Programme to reflect the reported variations detailed in Appendix 3 of the report;

4)    the request to transfer £466,000 from the social housing acquisitions Section 106 budget to the social housing acquisitions open market budget as detailed in paragraph 8.13 of the report;

5)    to request £74,000 of additional funding to finalise the Hamlin Gardens project; and

6)    to request that the new HRA development at Hamlin Gardens (Brooke House) be designated as a scheme for applicants over the age of 60, as detailed in paragraph 8.14 of the report.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the report which advised Members of the major differences, by management unit, between the approved budget and the outturn for the financial year up to 31 March 2024 in respect of the Housing Revenue Account and the Council’s new build schemes.

Particular reference was made to:-

·         the HRA was currently under its anticipated budget but had delivered significant progress on the Capital Programme;

·         the HRA was originally budgeted to take £2.8 million from the HRA working balance, but only £1.5 million had been used; and

·         the capital programme had delivered £24 million out of a revised £30.5 million programme and was split between £10.3 million on existing stock and £13.5 million for other projects.

Opposition group leaders spoke on the item and made the following points:-

·         Cllr Moore – commented on the Ash Die Back budget which had been unspent for a number of years and needed to be invested into biodiversity projects and tree planting to address the risk of Ash Die Back.

During the discussion, the following points were made:

·         welcome the work that had been undertaken on the capital programme and thanks were made to the officers; and

·         the ash dieback budget was put in place a few years ago to address the anticipated risk across the UK. In Exeter, the risk was not as prolific as first expected and the money was kept to deal with any effects of Ash Die Back, rather than for tree planting.

Leader advised that the Portfolio Holder would look at the Ash Die Back budget and provide a detailed response.

The Leader moved, and Councillor Wright seconded, the recommendations which were voted upon and CARRIED unanimously.

RECOMMENDED that Council notes and approves:-

1)    the supplementary budget of £50,000 as detailed in paragraph 8.5 of the report;

2)    the HRA financial position for 2023/24 financial year;

3)    the revision of the HRA Capital Programme to reflect the reported variations detailed in Appendix 3 of the report;

4)    the request to transfer £466,000 from the social housing acquisitions Section 106 budget to the social housing acquisitions open market budget as detailed in paragraph 8.13 of the report;

5)    to request £74,000 of additional funding to finalise the Hamlin Gardens project; and

6)    to request that the new HRA development at Hamlin Gardens (Brooke House) be designated as a scheme for applicants over the age of 60, as detailed in paragraph 8.14 of the report.