The Residents' Services Select Committee of Hillingdon Council met on Thursday 08 January 2026 to discuss a range of important issues affecting the borough. Key topics scheduled for review included the council's financial performance, budget proposals for the upcoming year, and progress on climate change initiatives. The committee also reviewed reports on parking enforcement, flood investigations, and the council's work programme.

Monthly Budget and Spend Report

The committee was scheduled to review the council's monthly budget and spend report for October 2025 (Month 7). This report provides an update on the financial position for the council and specifically for services within the remit of the Residents' Services Select Committee. The headlines indicated a projected net overspend of £36.0 million for the council's core operating activities, driven by pressures in service operating budgets, particularly in adult social care, homelessness support, and children's social care. There was also a noted shortfall against budgeted savings targets. For the services overseen by the committee, a projected overspend of £7.8 million was anticipated, with pressures identified in Residents Services: Place due to a shortfall in garden waste subscription income and Residents Services: Homes and Communities primarily due to increased demand for homelessness support. The report also detailed the savings programme for 2025/26, highlighting that £19.0 million (48%) of savings were banked or on track, with a significant portion (£10.4 million) considered undeliverable and requiring removal from the budget for 2026/27. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was forecasting a breakeven position.

Cabinet Budget Proposals 2026/27

The committee was set to consider the draft revenue budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy proposals for 2026/27 to 2030/31 relating to services within its remit. These proposals indicated a net budget change for the committee's services of £15.8 million in 2026/27, reducing to £14.0 million by 2028/29. This was to be achieved through savings proposals totalling £14.0 million and growth proposals amounting to £29.9 million. The report detailed line-by-line savings proposals across directorates, including significant savings from Extended Producer Responsibility Grant and Waste collection efficiencies within the Environment section, and substantial growth proposals related to Homelessness Prevention and Base TA Budget Reset within the Housing section. The committee was asked to comment on the financial assumptions, savings proposals, growth pressures, service impacts, and delivery risks associated with these proposals.

Six Month Performance Monitoring Report

This report aimed to monitor expenditure against key performance indicators for the first six months of the 2025/26 financial year. It highlighted that Hillingdon had the fourth lowest net expenditure in London per 100,000 residents, despite unique pressures related to Heathrow Airport. The report indicated strong value for money in Housing and Homelessness services, with Hillingdon having the eighth lowest expenditure in London. The council's housing landlord service achieved a C2 grade from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH). However, the report noted challenges with rough sleeping rates and a higher proportion of homes not meeting the Decent Homes Standard, although significant investment was planned to address this. Highways and planning services were performing well, meeting 100% of major planning application target timescales, but EV charging availability remained below London averages.

Parking Enforcement

The committee was provided with background information on the Council's Parking Enforcement Service, including the contract with APCOA. The report detailed the scope of the contract, which covers enforcement of parking controls, bus lanes, and moving traffic contraventions, as well as the provision of IT systems and cash collection. It highlighted the challenges faced by Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs), including verbal and physical abuse, with 31 Code Red incidents and 420 general verbal abuse incidents reported in the last year. The report showed that APCOA consistently met CEO deployment targets and that the issue rate per deployed hour had increased, suggesting improved targeting of enforcement. The number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued by CEOs had increased year-on-year, with a forecast for 2025 indicating a 3% increase on 2024. CCTV enforcement had seen a reduction in PCNs issued in 2025, attributed to new cameras correcting driver behaviour. The report also detailed initiatives such as an ANPR enforcement vehicle, agile deployment based on data, school deployments, and additional support at Ruislip Lido. APCOA's social value contributions, including work experience for students and donations to the charity Head Start, were also highlighted. Recommendations were made regarding motorcycle parking, removal of unlawfully parked vehicles, and the need for a dedicated car pound.

Climate Change Progress Report

This report provided an update on progress made in 2024/25 against the Council's Strategic Climate Action Plan, which aims for the council to be carbon neutral by 2030 and use 100% clean energy by the same year. The report showed a reduction in the corporate carbon footprint from static sources, with emissions decreasing by approximately 34% over five years at Uxbridge Civic Centre. Work was underway to establish systems for monitoring fleet emissions, which remain a significant source of emissions. The report also detailed carbon offsetting through works in non-operational assets, such as Highgrove and Hillingdon Leisure Centres, funded by the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS). The significant role of tree canopy coverage in carbon sequestration was highlighted, with the borough's tree canopy estimated to sequester approximately 7,342 tonnes of CO₂ per year, exceeding the council's operational carbon footprint. New tree planting targets and progress were also outlined. The report covered progress across various themes, including community leadership, the council's own operations, building better places, clean energy, waste management, climate adaptation, carbon offsetting, sustainable transportation, and transparency.

Section 19 Flood Investigation

The committee was scheduled to review the findings of a Section 19 flood investigation into the significant flood event of 22–23 September 2024. The investigation identified that 172 flood incidents were reported, with the majority in Ickenham and Ruislip. The report detailed the sources and causes of flooding, the roles and responses of Risk Management Authorities (RMAs), and provided recommendations to reduce future risk. Key findings indicated that high river levels in the River Pinn, Yeading Brook East and West, and Ickenham Stream overwhelmed drainage systems, leading to surcharging and surface water accumulation, particularly in low-lying areas. Recommendations included targeted drainage improvements, the establishment of community Flood Action Groups (FLAGs), and collaborative schemes with the Environment Agency (EA) and Thames Water Utilities Limited (TWUL). Specific recommendations were made for Bessingby Park, Breakspear Road South, Central Ickenham, West Ruislip Depot Area, Ruislip Gardens, Victoria Road Area, Brook Drive, and West End Road. General recommendations were also made for Hillingdon Council, the EA, and TWUL regarding improved communication, maintenance, and data sharing.

Forward Plan

The committee was to note the Cabinet Forward Plan, which outlines key decisions to be taken by Cabinet and Cabinet Members over the coming year. This plan includes items such as the Biannual Performance Report, Infrastructure Funding Statement, Statement of Licensing Policy, Budget Proposals for 2026/27, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, Hillingdon Parking Strategy, and the HRA Business Plan. The committee's role was to consider these items within its remit and provide comments where appropriate.

Work Programme

The committee was to review its work programme for the current municipal year, noting forthcoming meeting dates and considering any amendments. The work programme included regular monitoring of budget and spend, updates on the Infrastructure Funding Statement, the Strategic Climate Action Plan, and parking enforcement. It also listed one-off information items such as reviews of environmental protection services, the Statement of Gambling Policy, and the Community Safety Strategy. The committee's planned site visits included locations such as the Leisure Centre works, Heathrow Skills Academy, and the HS2 site.