Agenda and minutes

This report will be considered under Special Urgency as detailed in the Access to Information Procedure Rules, Rule 19, for the following reasons: 

·  The Council has been notified by the Department for Communities and Local Government of a change to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) subsidy determination for 2009/10 that has reduced the National Guideline Rent Increase. 

·  Not implementing this change would mean that Council tenants would be paying a higher level of rent than is now necessary.

·  Taking a decision now means that the Council will be able to ensure that the administration of this reduction can be passed on to tenants at the earliest opportunity.

1.1  The Corporate Director of Finance and Resources detailed the reasons for the report being considered under the special urgency provision as detailed in Rule 19 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules set out in the LB Hackney Constitution. The reasons provided were as follows:

• The Council has been notified by the Department for Communities and

Local Government of a change to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) subsidy determination for 2009/10 that has reduced the National Guideline Rent Increase.

• Not implementing this change would mean that Council tenants would be paying a higher level of rent than is now necessary.

• Taking a decision now means that the Council will be able to ensure that the administration of this reduction can be passed on to tenants at the earliest opportunity.

1.2  The Corporate Director for Legal and Democratic Services  advised that in accordance with rule 11.1 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules set out in the LB Hackney Constitution on page 201,  the Speaker has been consulted. It was confirmed that the Speaker has given his consent to the Executive Mayor taking the decision under the special urgency provision as further delay would seriously prejudice the public interest. 

1.3  The Corporate Director for Legal and Democratic Services concluded that the Mayor had executive power to make the decision as the Speaker has also given his approval to use the urgency provisions. Under that rule the call- procedures cannot be invoked.

1.4  The Corporate Director of Finance and Resources introduced the report.

  The Executive Mayor AGREED:

1. To affirm the previous decision made by Cabinet on 26 January 2009 to increase the average dwellings rents by 6.2% from 6 April 2009, for which the requisite statutory notice was given, if recommendation 2 below (3.2 of the report) is successfully challenged in court. This will preserve the Council’s position to increase the rent by 6.2% in the event of challenge.

2. To agree to decrease the average increase in dwelling rents for 2009/10 from 6.2% to 3.0% backdated to 6 April 2009 in accordance with the Government’s revised formula rent guidance. It is recommended that this is done without consultation.

3. To agree that Hackney Homes issue, on behalf of the Council, notice to tenants about the decrease in the rent increase of 3.1% backdated from 6 April 2009. This means tenants will receive on average a net increase of 3.0% from 2008/09 average rent.

4. To affirm all other increases in the previous decision of 26 January 2009.

5. To agree that Hackney Homes issue, on behalf of the Council, notice to Council tenants to the same effect.

1.5  The meeting closed at 4.10pm