SOCIAL WORK AND HOUSING COMMITTEE

 

WEDNESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 1998 - 3.00 pm

 

Present:- Provost Allan, Councillors Clocherty, O'Rourke, Jackson, Nimmo, Rebecchi, Mitchell and Welch, Councillor O'Rourke, Convener, in the Chair.

 

In attendance:- The Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development), the Director of Central Services, the Director of Finance and the Director of Housing and Customer Services.

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Morrison (D) and McGhee.

 

The following paragraph is submitted for confirmation or otherwise.

 

   142      HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT BUDGET 1998/99                                                                         142

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 6 February 1998 by the Directors of Housing and Customer Services and Finance on the proposed Housing Revenue Account Budget for 1998/99.  The report advised that the estimated deficit on the Housing Revenue Account for 1998/99, taking into account all appropriate adjustments including those approved by the Policy and Strategy Committee at its meeting on 5 February 1998 (Para 140), but excluding any increases in respect of additional resources or service developments, any savings or extra income, amounted to £2,893,000 which equated to an average rent increase of approximately £5.04 per house per week on a 48 week basis.

DECIDED:

(a)  That an average rent increase of £3.90 per house per week on a 48 week basis be agreed and implemented from 2 April 1998; and

(b)  That it be agreed to adopt the following savings options for 1998/99:-

 

Option                                                                                         Estimated Saving

 

(i)  Reduction in provision for Heat Leasing 1998/99

from £163,000 to £80,000                                                           £83,000

 

(ii)  Reduction in Painting Budget from £600,000 to

£300,000                                                                                     £300,000

 

(iii)  Change in procedure for securing void houses

and implementation of framework for the standard

of repair to void houses.                                                               £250,000

 

(iv)  Increase in charges in respect of the Inverclyde

Centre and sundry, lock-up garage, covered parking

and ground charges                                                                      £16,000