Decision details

To agree the approach to Housing Related Support charges in 2015/16

(1)        That, having regard to the comments of the Epping Forest Tenants & Leaseholders Federation tabled at the meeting, the approach to Housing Related Support (HRS) charges set out in Option 5 within the report be taken, namely to continue with the agreed 2015/16 charges and increase charges further from April 2016 over a period of time until the cost of the Scheme Management Service was self funded, and that:

            (a)        the HRS charges made to Council tenants and private Careline users for   2015/16 be continued for the remainder of the current year; and

            (b)        in advance of the budget cycle for 2016/17, a plan on how much HRS charges      should be increased each year from April 2016 until the cost of the Scheme   Management Service became self-funded, with regard to any annual reductions in     HRS funding from Essex County Council, be recommended by the Housing Portfolio           Holder to the Cabinet;

(2)        That the Housing Select Committee be requested to:

            (a)        consider whether more properties specially designated for older people on             housing estates should be de-designated, with future vacancies used to meet the    increasing demand for younger housing applicants;

            (b)        review the associated level of staffing required to provide the Scheme        Management Service to determine if staffing costs (and therefore HRS charges) could         be reduced as a result; and

(c)       make recommendations to the Housing Portfolio Holder accordingly; and

(3)       That letters be sent to all service users in February 2016, once the Cabinet had determined the HRS charges for 2016/17 and the amount of HRS funding to be received from Essex County Council for 2016/17 was known, explaining the proposed approach and the reasons.