The Council of Hillingdon Council's annual meeting was scheduled for Thursday, 14 May 2026. The agenda included the election of a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor, the appointment of committee members, and the presentation of annual reports from select committees.

Election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor

The meeting was scheduled to begin with prayers, followed by apologies for absence and declarations of interest. A key item on the agenda was the election of the Mayor for the 2026/2027 term. This process was expected to include a summary of the outgoing Mayor's year in office, nominations for the new Mayor, and the formal acceptance of office by the newly elected Mayor. Following this, the Mayor was to appoint a Deputy Mayor for the coming year. The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Philip Corthorne MCIPD, was expected to provide a summary of his year. The meeting also included a vote of thanks to the outgoing Mayor, with the potential presentation of badges to the past Mayor and their consort.

Committee Allocations and Annual Reports

Following the mayoral proceedings, the Council was to consider committee allocations and membership for the 2026/2027 municipal year. This would involve determining the number and size of Council committees and assigning members based on the political balance of the Council.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to receiving the annual reports from the Council's select committees. These reports provide an overview of the scrutiny and oversight activities undertaken by each committee throughout the 2025/26 municipal year.

The Corporate Resources & Infrastructure Select Committee, chaired by Councillor John Riley, was scheduled to present its annual report. This committee oversees a broad range of council services, including finance, procurement, human resources, legal services, highways, and property. The report was expected to detail their work on topics such as the Maximising Council Spaces review, budget scrutiny, performance monitoring, and thematic service scrutiny, including the Hillingdon Cycle Strategy, Hayes Estate regeneration, digital transformation, building safety, the Right to Buy buy-back programme, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, fleet management, and Council Tax banding arrangements. The committee also undertook a site visit to the Platinum Jubilee Leisure Centre.

The Children, Families & Education Select Committee, chaired by Councillor Susan O'Brien, was also scheduled to present its annual report. This committee scrutinises services supporting children, young people, and families, including Children's Services, safeguarding, education, and SEND. Their report was anticipated to cover their work on corporate parenting, an in-depth review of the Council's fostering offer, budget scrutiny, performance monitoring, and thematic service scrutiny. This included education sufficiency, school organisation, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), attendance and inclusion, care and safeguarding, the Family First reforms, youth justice, adult learning and skills, and the School Organisation Plan.

The Residents' Services Select Committee, chaired by Councillor Peter Smallwood OBE, was to present its annual report. This committee oversees services directly impacting residents' daily lives, such as housing, homelessness, planning, regeneration, waste, green spaces, parking, licensing, leisure, environmental services, and community safety. Their report was expected to detail their review of Homelessness Prevention and the Customer Journey, budget scrutiny, performance monitoring, and thematic service scrutiny. This included housing and homelessness, community safety and crime and disorder, the Council's relationship with Heathrow Airport, parking services and enforcement, the Empty Homes Council Tax Premium, animal welfare and licensing, planning and regeneration, allotments management, the Statement of Licensing Policy, infrastructure funding, the Community Safety Strategy, environmental enforcement, climate change and flood risk, waste services, and community cohesion. The committee also undertook site visits related to waste collection and the Platinum Jubilee Leisure Centre.

The Health and Social Care Select Committee, chaired by Councillor Nick Denys, was to present its annual report. This committee scrutinises services supporting the health, wellbeing, and independence of residents, including adult social care, public health, and the voluntary and community sector. Their remit also includes statutory health scrutiny and oversight of domestic abuse services. The report was expected to cover their review of early intervention and prevention in Adult Social Care, budget scrutiny, performance monitoring, and thematic scrutiny. This included the Hillingdon Hospital redevelopment, a review of GP coverage, an autism update, and a Hillingdon Health and Care Partners transformation update. Healthwatch Hillingdon was also noted as a contributor to the committee's work.

Finally, the meeting was scheduled to include a statement by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Edwards. Following the adjournment of the Annual Meeting of the Council, separate meetings of committees were to be convened for the purpose of appointing Chairs, Vice-Chairs, and sub-committees.