The Central Hounslow Area Forum met on the 9th of December at Holy Trinity Church in Hounslow. Before the formal meeting, an informal networking event was scheduled from 6.30 pm, with the formal meeting beginning at 7.30 pm.

During the formal meeting, presentations were scheduled from four organisations who had received funding from the Council's Thriving Communities Fund:

Holy Trinity Church

Changing Suits

Al Mustafa Trust

The agenda does not include any further information about these organisations or the projects they received funding for.

Minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2024

The next most significant item on the agenda was the discussion of the minutes of the previous meeting. The agenda included the minutes from the meeting of the Central Hounslow Area Forum on 18 September 2024 (Minutes of Previous Meeting).

These minutes describe a wide-ranging discussion about community safety in Hounslow. This included presentations from the Metropolitan Police and from Council officers about their Safer Communities Plan. Of particular note was the discussion about the potential closure of an alleyway between Myrtle Road and Alexandra Road in Hounslow.

Sgt Paul Todd spoke about the alleyway linking Myrtle and Alexandra Rd and the high level of crime which in this area including drug dealing. Photos had been taken of discarded drug paraphernalia during walks with local Councillors.

The minutes go on to describe how this alleyway is considered much safer because it is overlooked, well lit and covered by CCTV.

If the alley were to be shut it would push the dealers onto the street. This would reduce the police patrol area and avoid the issue of police going in one end and the suspects going out the other end, with the proceeds of crime being thrown over into the waste land either side. Sgt Todd asked that Councillors in support of this consider the closure of the alleyway.

Open Forum for Questions from the Public

The agenda also included an item titled 'Open Forum for Questions from the Public', inviting residents to submit questions in writing at least one working day before the meeting.

A form for residents to submit these questions was included with the agenda (CHAF - Open Forum proforma - updated Aug 2023).

A number of questions were submitted in advance of the meeting, and the agenda included a list of these questions and the Council officers' answers. The topics covered by these questions included:

• The use of Lime Bikes in the borough.
• The use of private e-scooters in the borough.
• A planning application for new dwellings at 80-82 Staines Road in Hounslow.
• The recent closure of the WHSmith Post Office in Hounslow.
• The recent closure of the Watermans Arts Centre in Brentford.
• The progress of Cycleway 9.
• The Council's decision to stop using chemical weed killer.
• Parking enforcement on Munster Avenue, off Staines Road in Hounslow.

Thriving Communities Fund Presentation

The agenda included an item titled 'Thriving Communities Fund Presentation'. There is no further information in the agenda about what was scheduled to be discussed during this presentation. However, because the agenda includes presentations from four organisations who have received funding from the Thriving Communities Fund, it is reasonable to assume that this presentation was about that fund.

The Thriving Communities Fund is a fund that was set up by the Council to support local community groups. It is reasonable to assume that this presentation was about the fund, and the process for applying for funding.