Social Value Ideas for South Cambridgeshire District Council

Housing Revenue Account Rental Increases 4.8%

Housing rents increased by 4.8% (inflation plus 1%), which is the maximum permissible under government formula. This is necessary to fund the new build program while maintaining existing stock. All En…

“we are having to put um rents up by 4.8% which is the maximum that we are allowed to do which is inflation plus 1%”

Housing New Build Program - 113+ Homes Delivered

Council has exceeded 100 new council homes in the last 12 months, heading towards 113 by end of financial year. Forward program includes over 600 homes planned over next 2-3 years. This represents hig…

“we've passed the 100 um counter home this this year heading towards that sort of sort of in the region of 113 by the end of this financial year... ove…”

Rent Convergence Policy Delayed by Government

Government has blocked the proposed rent convergence policy for 2026-27, which would have brought social rents to government-prescribed target rent levels. Policy now delayed to 2027-28 (£1 increase) …

“Unfortunately the government now said we can't do that for the coming financial year... this does mean um some changes to the capital program... this …”

Acquisition of 82 Affordable Homes - Lawstone

Cabinet approved acquisition of 82 affordable homes in Lawstone to be delivered over 3-4 years. Includes 14 wheelchair-accessible properties and majority are 2-bed units addressing housing shortage. P…

“82 affordable homes for Northto. Uh, they're going to be delivered over the next three or four years. Um, they there's a robust system of uh financial…”

Assignment and Succession Policy Updated

Cabinet approved revised assignment and succession policy for housing to bring it in line with current legislation. The policy includes local discretion criteria to support individuals left in propert…

“The assignment and succession policy is one before us now. Um, I'm happy to move the recommendation uh and that is that cabinet approves the assignmen…”

Housing Safety Policies - Gas and Water Hygiene

Cabinet approved housing safety policies related to gas and water hygiene compliance. Officers confirmed 100% compliance on gas safety checks across all properties with gas. Water hygiene works underw…

“Cabinet approves the housing safety policies related to gas and water hygiene as set out in appendixes A and B. We are 100% compliant on our gas safet…”

Housing Revenue Account Capital Investment

Cabinet approved capital program including approximately £80 million investment from housing revenue account in current financial year. Projecting delivery of 120 new build council houses in current y…

“They were found the housing revenue account, which is good news. That's showing that in this current financial year, we're proposing to invest 80 mill…”

Council Tax Increase 2.99%

Cabinet approved 2.99% increase in council tax, which is the maximum permissible increase. This results in approximately £524 additional annual cost for an average band D property (approximately £5.24…

“we need and the government expects us to um collect the maximum amount of council tax that we are allowed to. So in the circumstances of the fair fund…”

Fair Funding Review - Core Spending Power Reduction

Government's fair funding review has significantly reduced council's core spending power over the next three years. The government is combining compensation for £10 million loss of business rates with…

“the fair funding review is here and as we expected it has taken from us a considerable amount of our income from taxation... the following three years…”