Decision details

To consider the report of the Finance Manager seeking to approve new charges for landlord controlled heating from 7 November 2016.

(i)  Approved that charges to tenants for landlord controlled heating are reduced by 5.0% from 7 November 2016.

(ii)  Approved that, for the residents of International Way, the daily charge of 29.2 pence will cease, and the unit charge of 5.4 pence will remain unchanged.

The financial outturn for 2015/16 shows that the heating account has moved from a deficit of £3,000 to a surplus of £682,000 during the financial year. The surplus at 31^st March 2016 is £569,000 higher than forecast in August 2015, mainly due to a relatively mild winter.

Alternative options are to increase charges in line with energy inflation, or to freeze charges at current levels. Both options are likely to generate an increased surplus on the account, which is contrary to policy, and could increase levels of fuel poverty in deprived areas of the City and compound some of the impacts of welfare reform.

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