Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Housing, seeking formal approval for expenditure on various projects, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules.

The Capital Programme Update report presented to Council on 15^th September 2010 requested £1.6m be brought forward from 2011/12 and that this money be used to improve kitchens and bathrooms within the Harefield and Central areas and also some sheltered properties with these improvements being completed by the end of the financial year.  Further approval will be sought for additional funding for heating replacement to continue the existing programme of replacement of uneconomic and/or asbestos containing boilers, and further improvement to communal areas in supported housing.

The proposed schemes will contribute to the Council’s strategic housing objectives through improving the appearance and facilities on our estates and the well-being and satisfaction of our tenants in the areas where they live.

(i)  To approve a virement of £720,000 from the 2011/12 uncommitted provision for “decent homes plus funding – future years” to the sheltered communal improvements budget and, in accordance with finance procedure rules, to give approval to spend the £720,000 on improvements to Rozel Court, Sarnia Court, James Street, Milner Court and Neptune Court.

(ii)  To approve a virement of £1.6M from the 2010/11 “Decent homes future works” budget with the following sums being added to the 2010/11 budgets for:

·  Decent Homes works in Harefield - £767,000

·  Decent Homes work in Central - £583,000

·  Decent homes work to supported housing - £250,000

(iii)  To approve, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules an overall increase in the approval to spend on these 3 schemes in the sums set out above.

Including sums in a 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 £500,000 be approved by Cabinet before they can proceed.

1.  During consultation with Tenants’ groups and leaseholder regarding the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme and in the formation of the HRA Business Plan during the Option Appraisal process, all parties expressed support for schemes of work at this time.

2.  The alternative option of not undertaking this work would leave the properties and surrounding areas in their present condition and would not be in accordance with the views expressed during that consultation process or others subsequently carried out.