Decision details

To consider a report from the Cabinet Member for Housing seeking the commencement of repairs and refurbishment works as defined within the approved 5 year plan.

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Housing, Cabinet agreed the following modified recommendation:

(i)  To approve in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules capital expenditure of £74,777,000  phased £10,024,000 in 2012/13, £21,884,000 in 2013/14, £23,235,000 in 2014/15 and £19,634,000 in 2015/16 provision for which exists within the unapproved section of the HRA Capital Programme, as detailed in the following modified table:

1. Financial Procedure Rules require that all schemes already in the capital programme costing more than £200,000 but less than £500,000 require approval by the relevant Chief Officer and Policy Co-ordinator following consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member and Chief Finance Officer. Schemes over £500,000 need to be approved by Cabinet.
2. Including sums in the Capital Programme does not give authority to spend the money.  This is done by a separate scheme approval process.  Financial Procedure Rules require that all schemes with a total of more than £500K be approved by Cabinet before they can proceed.

1.  There have been various consultation meetings with tenant groups and leaseholders during the last six months with regard to the proposed programme of capital expenditure associated with the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and the new self-financing regime.

2.  These works form part of the recently approved 4 year plan (formally approved in November 2011).

The alternative option of not undertaking the works identified would leave the Council’s homes and surrounding areas in their present condition and would not accord with the view expressed during the consultation process or with the Council’s policies of providing homes that comply with the four new headings:

·  Safe, Wind and Weather Tight

·  Warm and Energy Efficient

·  Modern Facilities

·  Well Maintained Communal Facilities