Decision Details

That Cabinet recommended that Council approves the following: 

1. The draft HRA budget for 2026/27, and the indicative figures for 2027/28 to 2029/30;

2. Movements in HRA Reserves and Balances;

And that Cabinet noted; 

3. Projected outturn position for 2025/26; 

4. Changes affecting public and private sector housing and welfare; and 

5. That the Scrutiny Committee receive a response to the following questions at a future meeting:

a. What percentage of tenants were under occupying their properties (Paragraph 1.16 - ‘cash for moving’)

b. Right to Acquire information/discounts given and process for stock supplied by Housing Associations. 

c. If the HRA has considered selling its garages, and

d. Is flood risk captured as part of the stock condition survey when reviewing decent homes standard.

This report provides the relevant information to enable Cabinet to review, consider and comment upon the proposed 2026/27 to 2029/30 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget, before making recommendations to Council 25 February 2026 as required under  the Budget and Policy Framework.

As set out in the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules, the Chief Finance Officer is responsible for preparing and submitting reports on revenue budgets to Cabinet and Council.

The 2026/27 budget and the indicative figures for 2027/28 to 2029/30 will be considered at the following Council meetings:

- Cabinet 13 January 2026
- Overview and Scrutiny Committee 29 January 2026
- Cabinet 3 February 2026
- Full Council 25 February 2026

The report also notes changes in welfare and benefits and the impact of external and internal requirements which have been considered when completing the budgets.