Decisions

That the setting of the Building Control Charges from 1 April 2021, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be agreed.

To consider the Housing Revenue Account Budget for the 2021/22 financial year

That Council be recommended to approve:

1)              the Housing Revenue Account budget for 2021/22 (Appendix A);

2)              that Council house dwelling rents be increased by up to 1.50% effective from April 2021 in line with the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2015;

3)              Garage rents to be increased by 1.16% effective from April 2021 in line with Council’s general fees and charges;

4)              Shared Equity Rents to be increased by 1.13% based on September RPI, effective from April 2021;

5)              Tenant Service Charges to be set based on cost recovery;

6)              the Housing Major Repairs (capital) programme for 2021/22 as set out in Appendix B;

7)              Sheltered room guest charges for 2021/22 remain unchanged at £9.50 per night per room.

To provide the Executive with the key Revenue budget extract of the Medium Term Financial
Plan (MTFP) for 2021/24 including the proposed revenue budget submission for 2021/22

That:

1)              Council be recommended to approve the Summary of Budget Movements (SOBM) (as set out in Appendix A to the report);

2)              the report of the Community and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, relating to Scrutiny of the Budget Setting Process 2021-22 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2021-2024 (as set out in Appendix B to the report), be noted.

To agree the Treasury Management Strategy for 2021-24

That Council be recommended to:

1)              approve the Treasury Management Strategy as set out in Appendix A, including the following additional appendices;

·       Prudential Indicators (Appendix B)

·       Annual Investment Strategy 2021/22 (Appendix C)

·       Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy (Appendix D)

2)              note that Audit Committee agreed the Treasury Management Strategy on 3 February 2021;

3)              note the cumulative financial impact on the Council of its borrowing activities equates to a net credit to the general fund for the taxpayer of £13.64 per band D equivalent at end of 2021/22 and noting this credit increases to £62.86 at the end of 2023/24.

To agree the Capital Programme and Strategy for 2021-24

That Council be recommended to agree the following:

1)              the Capital Strategy for 2021 - 2024 - Appendix A;

2)              the three-year Capital Programme for 2021 - 2024 – Appendix B;

3)              the draft vision for capital investment over the next five years - Appendix C;

4)              the use of developer contribution funding (s106 and CIL) for capital projects as set out in Appendix D. Approval is sought up to the project budget.

The Executive Member for Planning and Enforcement agreed that Wokingham Borough Council:

1.     Submit the comments contained in the report as this Council’s response to West Berkshire District Council’s Minerals and Waste Local Plan Proposed Submission consultation (November 2020);

2.     Noted the withdrawal of the holding objection set out in the council’s response to the earlier consultation; and

3.     Delegated any further submissions to the examination in public process to the Director of Place and Growth, in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning and Enforcement.