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Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3UY. Please enter the building through the Contact Centre entrance via the seafront.
Contact: Democratic Services on 01424 451484 email: democraticservices@hastings.gov.uk
Note: Postponed from the 25th January
Items No. Item Apologies for Absence
Minutes:
Apologies received from Councillor Bacon (Substituted by Cllr Rogers)
Declarations of Interest
Minutes:
Councillor
Item
Interest
Cllr Webb
4
Personal – East Sussex County Councillor
Minutes of previous meeting 20/11/23 PDF 100 KB
Minutes:
RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on 20th November 2023 be approved as a true record.
Draft Budget Report 24/25 PDF 192 KB
Kit Wheeler (Chief Finance Officer)
Additional documents:
- Budget Appendicies v1.2 , item 14. PDF 583 KB
- Appendix A - Hastings Council Tax Premiums Report , item 14. PDF 163 KB
- Hastings Council Tax Premiums Notice DRAFT , item 14. PDF 57 KB
- Hastings Council Tax Empty Homes & Second Homes Premiums Policy , item 14. PDF 209 KB
Minutes:
The Chief Finance Officer presented the report and gave on update since the Budget planning report discussed in November 2023. The figures have changed since the end of last year. The Council has put itself in a stronger financial position because of the decisions made over the last few months. The decision made last week regarding the sale of land at Cornwallis and avoidance of hotel construction costs has made a substantial reduction in the interest and minimum revenue provision (MRP) costs the Councils would have had to make.
Large savings achievement is still assumed in the draft budget. There has been an increase in fees and charges following on from detailed analysis. The reserves policy has been reviewed, and the minimum level being agreed at £4m. During the life of this budget the council will likely retain this level of reserves minimum, however certainty in further years is harder to predict. Though the financial stability of the Council is better further substantial savings need to be achieved.
Councillor Patmore explained the paperwork is very complex and was difficult to compare to previous reports.
The Committee asked questions regarding the Budget.
Cllr Patmore asked why has there been no public consultation regarding the council tax increase for empty and second homes?
The Revenues and Benefits Manager explained the decision is a discretionary one for the council. Cllr Evans commented that residents have been asking for the increase and it’s a positive for the town. Cllr Hilton explained there was not any time for a consultation as legislation only came in November 2023 and every other Council in East Sussex are bringing in the legislation without consultation.
Cllr Collins highlighted only 1.8% of people occupying temporary accommodation are asylum seekers and asked what moves have been made to increase the supply of landlords?
The Head of Housing answered that it was important to note that the figures in the briefing only show households to whom we owe a statutory duty to house, this wouldn’t therefore include many single households where we do not have a duty to provide housing. People granted asylum in the UK who have been housed by the Home Office in Hastings will very largely be single people and therefore will not be shown in these figures.
On the question of landlord supply the Head of Housing stated that we do have a good scheme in place but there is more work to do with promoting the scheme and its benefits for landlords. Cllr Patmore asked regarding purchasing properties and the Head of Housing explained it would be an option if the property fell within the acquisitions budget.
Cllr Carr requested an update on the acquisition programme. The Head of Housing answered that 20 homes have been completed, 8 now have tenants. A further 20 are in conveyancing.
Cllr Sinden asked regarding temporary accommodation repairs, will accommodation be upgraded to a better standard?
The Head of Housing answered when properties are purchased, they are made up to the ... view the full minutes text for item 14.
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