The Residents' Services Select Committee was scheduled to discuss a range of important issues, including the council's legal and policy framework for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), an update on homeless prevention efforts, and the provision of sport and physical activity for young people. The committee was also set to review budget and spend monitoring reports, the Cabinet Forward Plan, and the committee's work programme.

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) Legal and Policy Framework

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of the legal controls and council policies governing Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) within the borough. This included information on the Private Rented Sector in Hillingdon, with a 2025 Housing Tenure Survey indicating approximately 2,537 HMOs, of which only 666 were licensed. The report highlighted that an estimated 30% of HMOs in Hillingdon were predicted to have serious housing hazards, three times the national average, and that 3,850 anti-social behaviour incidents were linked to HMOs over five years.

The discussion was expected to cover the implementation of an Article 4 Direction, which came into force borough-wide on 11 December 2025, removing permitted development rights for changes from C3 dwellinghouses to C4 small HMOs, meaning all new conversions now require planning permission. Since its implementation, 22 planning applications for C4 HMOs had been received, with 12 refused and 4 approved. The report also detailed the introduction of additional licensing controls for HMOs, requiring those occupied by three or more persons comprising two or more households to be licensed, with applications opening from 20 May 2026. The committee was to be informed about the distinction between HMO licensing and planning law, with licensing focusing on safety and management within the property, and planning law addressing land use and neighbourhood impact.

Update on Homeless Prevention and the Customer Journey

An update was scheduled on the implementation of recommendations from a major review of homeless prevention and the customer journey, conducted by the Residents' Services Select Committee. The review, which took place during a period of significant pressure on homelessness services, aimed to improve the experience of those presenting as homeless, manage expectations, enhance satisfaction, streamline processes, and ultimately prevent homelessness. Key findings from the review included the importance of early intervention, the need for improved communication and empathy from housing officers, better systems for case handovers, and challenges faced by domestic abuse victims in accessing housing support.

The report was expected to detail progress on five workstreams of the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) Action Plan: increasing prevention and reducing temporary accommodation placements, increasing access to alternative housing options, reducing the cost of temporary accommodation, increasing move-on into social housing, and delivering the MTFS programme through service modernisation. A proposed new organisational structure for the homelessness service was also to be discussed, aiming to strengthen leadership, enhance operational capacity, and support long-term financial sustainability by reducing caseloads and introducing clearer service pathways. The recently approved Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy for 2026-2030, which places prevention at its core, was also to be referenced.

Council Provision of Sport and Physical Activity for Young People

The committee was scheduled to receive an outline of the Council's Public Health team's sport and physical activity programme for young people, and women and girls, covering the period 2024-2025. The programme aims to encourage movement through unstructured play, structured programmes, and sport pathways, with a focus on inclusion and participation. The report was to highlight the use of GLL leisure centre facilities, parks, green spaces, and links with sports clubs and schools, following a playground to podium principle.

Performance data from the Active Lives Children and Young People Survey was to be presented, showing that Hillingdon had slightly lower physical activity levels (44.6%) and marginally higher physical inactivity levels (30.9%) compared to the London average (47.1% active, 30.2% inactive). The report was also to detail specific provisions, including Multi-sport for young people with disabilities, the London Youth Games, the Mini Marathon, and the new Junior parkrun initiative. The benefits to residents were to be outlined, with examples of improved social and communication skills, motor skills, emotional regulation, and self-esteem for participants in disability sports, and competitive opportunities and borough representation through the London Youth Games and Mini Marathon.

Budget and Spend Report

The committee was scheduled to review the budget monitoring position for the Council and for services within the remit of the Residents' Services Select Committee as of December 2025 (Month 9). The report indicated a projected overspend of £7.4m for the committee's portfolio, with Homes and Communities projecting an overspend of £7.2m, primarily due to higher-than-expected demand for homelessness support. The Place directorate was reporting an overspend of £0.2m, influenced by a shortfall in Garden Waste subscription fees and pressures across other income streams, partially offset by improved Planning income and reduced Waste Disposal costs.

The report was also to detail the savings programme, with £4.4m (40%) of savings identified within the Residents' Services select committee classified as banked or on track, while £4.9m (43%) were considered undeliverable. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was forecasting a breakeven position, with operating costs showing an in-year pressure of £2.0m, primarily driven by staffing costs and increased reactive and void repairs.

Cabinet Forward Plan

The committee was to review the Cabinet's latest Forward Plan, which sets out key decisions and other decisions to be taken by the Cabinet collectively and Cabinet Members individually over the coming year. The report was to detail the actions available to the committee in monitoring the Forward Plan, including providing specific comments on future reports, requesting further information, and potentially requesting draft reports for consideration. The plan included items such as the HRA Business Plan, Temporary Accommodation Action Plan Monitoring, and reports from Select Committees.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to consider its work programme for the current municipal year. This included noting future meeting dates and reviewing the progress of ongoing reviews and regular service and performance monitoring. The work programme detailed planned reviews such as the CCTV Service, and regular monitoring of the monthly Budget and Spend Report, Infrastructure Funding Statement, Strategic Climate Action Plan, and the Cabinet Forward Plan. One-off information items were also listed, including updates on the Community Payback Scheme, Environmental Protection Service, Statement of Gambling Policy, Sport for Young People, APCOA Parking Enforcement, and the condition of allotments. The committee was also to consider the progress of previous reviews, including the Homelessness Prevention and the Customer Journey Review.