The Chiswick Area Forum was scheduled to discuss the council's budget, hear an update from the local police, and receive an introduction to the community organisation Abundance London. The meeting also included an open forum for residents to raise local concerns.

Council Budget Overview

The meeting was scheduled to include an overview of the Hounslow Council's financial position and the 2026/27 budget-setting process. Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Strategy, Resources and External Affairs, and Jake Bacchus, Executive Director of Finance & Resources and Section 151 Officer, were expected to present. The discussion was to cover the council's statutory requirement to set a balanced budget, aligning financial planning with service delivery and departmental objectives.

Mr Bacchus was scheduled to explain his responsibilities as the Council's Section 151 Officer, which include ensuring value for money, overseeing financial governance, signing off annual accounts, and reporting on the lawfulness of financial decisions. The General Fund, which covers day-to-day expenditure on services such as adult and children's social care, temporary accommodation, libraries, parks, and waste services, was to be detailed. The significant demand pressures on services, including adult social care, were to be highlighted.

The presentation was also expected to outline the council's income streams for 2025/26, including government grants, Council Tax, retained business rates, and other income. The potential for council tax increases, including a general services increase and an adult social care precept, was to be discussed. Key timeframes in the budget-setting process, from the Medium-Term Financial Strategy to the final adoption by the Full Council, were to be outlined.

A significant focus was to be on Fair Funding 2.0, a national reform of local government funding. This reform was described as the most substantial change in approximately two decades, with key features including updated deprivation and cost-pressure metrics, adjustments for demographic shifts and inflation, and recognition of higher living costs in London. Hounslow was anticipated to be a net gainer under the new formula, with expected additional funding over three years to allow for targeted investment and service sustainability.

The budget proposals for 2026/27 were scheduled to include approximately £26 million in savings and efficiencies, with a focus on income generation and internal transformation, and no proposed cessation of services. The aim was to continue investing in libraries as community hubs and to protect frontline services while modernising delivery models.

Local Police Update

The meeting was scheduled to include an update from the local police on crime and policing matters within the Chiswick area.

Introduction to Abundance London

The Chiswick Area Forum was scheduled to receive an introduction to Abundance London, a community organisation. Further details on the organisation's activities and mission were expected to be presented.

Open Forum

The Open Forum was scheduled to provide an opportunity for members of the public to raise matters of local concern. Residents were encouraged to submit written items in advance, with points raised to be noted and used to inform the work of the Area Forum. While detailed discussion or immediate responses might not be possible, points raised would be followed up.

Issue Tracking

The meeting was scheduled to review the Chiswick Area Forum Issue Tracking Sheet, which details ongoing issues raised by residents and councillors. This would include updates on matters such as step-free access at local stations, communication issues related to the Chiswick Village development, events licensing applications for Gunnersbury Park, and the performance of the Council's reporting app.

The issue of abandoned e-bikes was to remain on the tracker, with ongoing concerns about their presence despite the withdrawal of Lime bikes from the borough. The 'Fix My Street' app's notification system was also to be discussed, with a focus on improving the clarity and accuracy of status updates for residents. The long-standing requests for the Piccadilly line to regularly stop at Turnham Green Station and for a lift to be installed at the station were to be followed up, with reports that Turnham Green Station had been placed on a list for review for step-free access by Transport for London (TfL).

Concerns regarding recycling from flats above shops were to be monitored, with a consultation on recycling open on the Council website. The issue of Gunnersbury Park events was to remain on the tracker due to continuous resident concerns, with planning underway to mitigate issues ahead of this year's events. The Chiswick House & Gardens Conservatory and Hounslow Highways schedules, including issues such as glyphosate spraying, weeding, and leafing, were also to be monitored. The development at Chiswick Village was to be tracked, with residents expressing concerns about communication from developers and seeking monitoring of building works by the Council's Building Control team.

Other Scheduled Items

The meeting was also scheduled to include:

• Apologies for absence, declarations of interest, or any other communications from Members.
• Announcements.
• Confirmation of the minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2026.
• A section for Urgent Business, where the Chair could agree to accept any business on grounds of urgency.
• The date of the next meeting, scheduled for 16 September 2026.

An informal networking event was scheduled to take place before the formal meeting, offering residents the opportunity to speak with Council officers, meet ward councillors, and learn about local community groups and initiatives.