The Hampstead District Management Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, 24 September 2026, was set to cover a range of financial and performance-related topics. Key discussions were expected to include the Housing Revenue Account Medium Term Financial Strategy, the Hampstead DMC Budget Report, and updates on anti-social behaviour, Homes & Communities performance, and tenant satisfaction.

HRA Medium Term Financial Strategy & Engagement for Budget Setting 2027/28

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to focus on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Medium Term Financial Strategy and the engagement process for budget setting for the 2027/28 financial year. The report from the Strategic Finance Lead for Housing highlighted considerable financial pressures facing the council, with the HRA budget under strain due to rising inflation, interest rates, and maintenance costs. It was estimated that the council would need to find between £8 million and £12 million in savings over the next three years to keep the housing budget balanced, even with maximum allowable rent increases. The report also noted that approximately £0.5 million of the HRA budget is spent on supporting Tenants' and Residents' Associations (TRAs) and District Management Committees (DMCs), with a further £0.8 million available for discretionary grants, which had been underspent by over 60% in the previous two years.

A key proposal was to change the format of resident engagement for rent setting consultations. Historically conducted through DMCs, feedback indicated that this process was not perceived as accessible or meaningful by all tenants. The new approach proposed for 2027/28 would move away from a single, time-limited event to a more accessible consultation with a wider reach, offering online and offline participation options. The Joint DMC meeting in January was proposed to be cancelled and replaced with these broader consultation exercises. However, DMCs would still be invited to provide group feedback, and proposals would be previewed at DMCs in December. The scope of the consultation would exclude the rate of proposed rental increases and the council's wider policies and strategic direction, but would aim to give tenants greater influence over decisions regarding service provision.

Hampstead DMC Budget Report

The meeting was also scheduled to consider the Hampstead DMC Budget Report for the 2026/2027 financial year. The report from the Head of Tenancy Services outlined a total budget of £162,930 for minor and major revenue works. TRAs were encouraged to submit bids early to allow for assessment before DMC consideration, with all expenditure needing to occur within the current financial year. The report detailed that £7,980 of the budget had already been approved for bids, leaving a balance of £154,950. A new bid for £30,000 was listed for consideration, intended as an extension of the ASB pilot project with an additional focus on environmental ASB issues. The report also itemised bids approved to date, including an officer bid for £7,980 for the installation of handrails at Spedan Close to address health and safety issues and improve access.

Anti-Social Behaviour Reports Across Hampstead - December 2025 to July 2026

For information, a report was included detailing anti-social behaviour (ASB) reports across Hampstead between December 2025 and July 2026. The report indicated a significant increase in ASB reports to the council, with a 71% year-on-year increase across all wards in the Hampstead DMC area. South Hampstead ward saw the greatest increase, with reports rising by 344%. The top ASB classification themes reported across the wards included drug use, threatening behaviour, and noise complaints. The report also provided data on calls to the Responsive Security Patrols (RSP), which also saw a significant increase of 83%