Present at the meeting:
- Councillor P R C Smith (Executive Leader) (In the Chair)
- Councillor J A O'Neill (Deputy Leader and Regeneration Champion)
- Councillor K Anderson (Healthier Communities and Older People Champion)
- Councillor J B Baldwin (Lifestyle Champion)
- Councillor K Cunliffe (Neighbourhood Champion)
- Councillor T.W. Halliwell (Organisational Change Champion)
- Councillor D T Molyneux (Environment Champion)
- Councillor Mrs E Smethurst (Improvement Champion)
- Councillor B M Wilson (Children and Young People Champion)
- Councillor Mrs S Loudon (Chairman)
- Councillor R T Splaine (Vice Chairman)
- Councillor N D Ash
- Councillor G M Bretherton
- Councillor Mrs B Bourne
- Councillor H L Cadman
- Councillor C Rigby
- Councillor P Thompson
- Councillor N R Whittingham
- Councillor G Wilkes
1 Apologies for Absence: Councillors C Ready (Equality Champion), M Aldred, (Vice Chairman of the Committee), Mrs J S Birch, M A Dewhurst, I A Franzen, P R Franzen, Mrs J Hurst, M Klieve, F B Walker, Mrs M Whiteside and R Winkworth and Rev R Moore and Mr B Turrell (Co-opted Members).
2 Whipping Declarations: The Deputy Director of Legal and Property Services reminded the meeting that Government guidance expected Members of Overview and Scrutiny Committees not to act in accordance with Party whipping and that, if they did, they were to declare it. There were no declarations made.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report.
Item subject to confirmation by the Council:
3 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) - Rent Setting 2008/09: The meeting considered a report on a proposal for rents and minor charges for 2008/09 for local authority dwellings. The Officers reminded the meeting that any decision in respect of Council house rents must be taken at the Council meeting on 9 January 2008 because of the need to serve notice on tenants. The Chief Executive of Wigan and Leigh Homes circulated at the meeting a briefing note that he had discussed with the Tenant Board Members and submitted their views thereon.
The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to maximise resources available for services to tenants by following Government guidance on setting rents.
Resolved: After taking account of the comments now submitted by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Cabinet recommends the Council to:-
- note the assumptions set out in the report and briefing paper for the preparation of the housing revenue account estimates 2008/09;
- approve a dwelling rent increase of 4.8%;
- agree that garage rents increase by the same percentage as dwelling rents namely 4.8% in 2008/09;
- increase service charges in 2008/09 by 4.4%;
- approve an extension of the suspension of the voluntary repayment of debt for a further two years;
- authorise the Director of Finance and Information Technology, in consultation with the Executive Leader, to inform the Department for Communities and Local Government of the Council’s profound dissatisfaction with the draft HRA subsidy determination for 2008/09 and highlight the consequences for the Council’s tenants; and
- authorise the Director of Finance and Information Technology to lobby Wigan’s MPs on the current review of rent subsidy arrangments to ensure that they are aware of its consequences on the Council and so that it improves in future.
(Councillor P Thompson declared a personal and non-prejudicial interest in this item because he owns rented accommodation in the private sector).
