This week in Hounslow:

• The Licensing Panel considered the review of a premises licence for Elux Superstore, due to concerns about illicit goods.
• The Pension Board discussed the pension fund's forward plan and compliance with the Pensions Regulator’s General Code of Practice.
• The Publishable Officer Decisions meeting addressed the award of a contract for CCTV services across the borough.
• The Hounslow Community Safety Partnership Board discussed the Safer Communities Strategic Needs Assessment and the Louise Casey Review.

Licensing Panel - Tuesday 22 April 2025

The Licensing Panel considered the review of the premises licence for Elux Superstore, 168 Heston Road, following an application by Graham Consterdine, a Trading Standards Regulatory Officer. The application cited concerns about crime, public safety, and the protection of children, due to the discovery of illicit goods, including non-compliant vapes and illicit medication. The panel was reminded of its powers under the Licensing Act 2003¹, including modifying, suspending, or revoking the licence. Constable Andrew Davies reported breaches of licensing conditions at the store, such as issues with CCTV and the sale of single cans of alcohol. Councillors were also reminded of the importance of declaring any interests in matters being discussed, as outlined in the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Pension Board - Tuesday 22 April 2025

The Pension Board discussed the pension fund's forward plan, reviewed its monitoring processes, and assessed its compliance with the Pensions Regulator’s General Code of Practice (GCOP). The GCOP, which came into force in March 2024, outlines expected conduct and practices for governing bodies to comply with duties under pensions legislation. The board also reviewed the performance of the pension fund administration, receiving a monitoring report from the West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF) covering the period from 1 October 2024 to 31 December 2024. The report pack noted that WYPF has a monthly target to complete a minimum of 85% of processes within the allotted number of days, and that the McCloud remedy², workload volumes and staffing levels are impacting performance in several areas. The board also noted the minutes of the Pension Fund Panel meeting from 7 April 2025, as well as breaches and late payments.

Publishable Officer Decisions - Tuesday 22 April 2025

The Publishable Officer Decisions meeting addressed the award of a contract for the provision, maintenance, and monitoring of CCTV services across the borough. Hounslow Council intends to award a contract to company A, referred to as the preferred bidder. The report pack stated that the council received four tenders in total, and that the preferred bidder was selected based on a combination of quality and price. The contract will be for a period of five years, with an option to extend for a further two years. The report pack stated that the CCTV system is used for a variety of purposes, including crime prevention, detection of crime, public safety, traffic management, and event management.

Hounslow Community Safety Partnership Board - Thursday 24 April 2025

The Hounslow Community Safety Partnership Board discussed a range of issues, including updates on the perception of safety in the borough, a review of the Serious Violence Duty³, and the progress of the Louise Casey Review⁴. The board also discussed the Safer Communities Strategic Needs Assessment and a project addressing non-accidental stab injuries. The Safer Communities Strategic Needs Assessment analyses crime trends and reviews them against the priorities set out in the borough’s Safer Communities Strategy 2024-2027. The assessment was expected to show that Hounslow continues to be a lower crime borough, with crime rates lower than the London average. Permjit Chadha, Assistant Director, Safer Communities, Siobhan Donoghue, CEO of Perfectly Imperfect, and Helen McCartan, Senior Communications Manager, provided an update on the Perception of Safety Task and Finish Group and Delivery Plan. Superintendent James Rawlinson provided an update on policing issues within Hounslow and on issues raised in the Baroness Casey review. Phil Hopkins, Head of Adolescent Services, and Charlie Rigby, CEO of the Violence Intervention Project, provided information on a new project started in September 2024 between the local authority, West Middlesex University Hospital (WMUH) and the Violence Intervention Project (VIP).

This week in Hounslow:

• The Cabinet approved the merger of two schools, and agreed to consult on a new draft housing strategy.
• The Cabinet also initiated a review of enforcement activities, and completed reviews of both third-party spending and the Safer Communities Improvement Programme.

Cabinet - Tuesday 15 April 2025

The Cabinet approved the consultation draft of the new Housing Strategy 2025-2030, which will replace the previous strategy that ran from 2019 to 2024. The council is required to have a housing and homelessness strategy. The draft strategy addresses rising homelessness and housing needs in the borough.

The priorities of the draft strategy are: tackling homelessness and rough sleeping, ensuring safe and decent council housing, raising standards in the private rented sector, helping residents to live healthy, independent and sustainable lives, and delivering more genuinely affordable homes. Councillor Lily Bath, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and Health Integration, welcomed priority three, which focuses on raising standards in the private rented sector, and Councillor Katherine Dunne, Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport, supported the ambitious proposals in the strategy. Councillor Thompson raised concerns about the cost of the proposals and the lack of detail on the provision of family homes. He also questioned why reviews of blocks with cladding were still being completed in 2025, in light of the Grenfell disaster¹. Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of the Council, responded that the council is trying to use its influence with developers to encourage the building of family homes, and that all council stock was looked at post-Grenfell, but regulations are constantly changing. The Cabinet agreed to commence a six-week consultation on the draft strategy.

The Cabinet gave final approval to merge Cardinal Road Infant and Nursery School and Victoria Junior School. The decision will extend the age range of Cardinal Road Infant and Nursery School to accommodate ages 3-11, and close Victoria Junior School on 31 August 2025. All pupils from both schools will become part of the merged primary school, which will open on 1 September 2025. Councillor Samir Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Education, Children's Skills and Employment, moved the report, noting that the decision takes into account responses received during the representation period. A staff member of Cardinal Road Infant and Nursery School raised a concern about the name of the school following the merger, suggesting that the Cardinal Road name should be kept. Officers responded that the change to any school’s name is not a decision for the Cabinet. A Feltham resident enquired whether housing would be built on the site of Victoria Junior School, and was assured that this was not part of the proposal. The Cabinet also approved the Hounslow Council School Organisation Changes Policy, which replaces the Schools Amalgamation Policy (Jan 2023).

The Cabinet approved the initiation of the Enforcement Review project, designed to undertake a comprehensive review of enforcement activities in the borough. These include environmental enforcement (fly-tipping, noise pollution, littering), parking enforcement, and associated place-based activities such as licensing and regulatory services. Councillor Aguinda Sidhu, Cabinet Member for Public Safety and Regulatory Services, explained that the project will include a range of internal council services, as well as third-party contracts, including parking enforcement (run by NSL²) and environmental enforcement (provided by APCOA). The Cabinet also approved a short-term extension of the parking enforcement contract, to allow sufficient time to do the work thoroughly and achieve the best outcomes. Councillor Thompson questioned whether the project represented value for money, given that it is using £250,000 from reserves, and there is no certainty whether there will be any financial benefit. He also noted that the project is not expected to be finished until 2027. Councillor Sidhu responded that the project is a starting point, and they will make sure that it will be value for money.

The Cabinet confirmed the completion of the Safer Communities Improvement Programme, and the full transition of the activity to be taken forward as part of business as usual. Councillor Sidhu confirmed that the programme has successfully achieved: a review of implementation of new Community Safety Partnership Board, a structured funded police team contract with increased focus on borough's housing estate, the design and delivery of new operating model for safer communities, a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention, anti-social behaviour officers for non-housing areas within the borough, and the delivery of cashable savings. Councillor Esmir Grawal, Cabinet Member for Residence, Support, Community and Equalities, said that she wholeheartedly supported the programme, and that it is trying to reduce crime levels in the borough and increase public trust and confidence in tackling crime. Councillor Bath welcomed the underspend on the programme. The programme was delivered on time and under budget, with the surplus funding returned to the council's reserves.

The Cabinet approved the completion of the Third Party Spend Programme, and the transition to business as usual. Councillor Rajawat explained that the aim of the programme was to have an effective commission cycle, driving value for money, high performance, and innovative supply delivery. Councillor Thompson said that the council seemed to have spent around £1 million to save £1 million, and questioned why the council did not have the contract management skills in place to avoid this. He also noted that the programme was meant to deliver £2.8 million in savings, and it has underperformed by around £1 million. Councillor Rajawat responded that the savings are ongoing savings, and that the council has to have a level of confidence that they will be delivered. He also said that the contract management arrangements delivered for what they needed to deliver at that point, but with a renewed focus, it is right to look into it in terms of the project itself.

This week in Hounslow:

• The Pension Fund Panel discussed the fund's risk register, administration performance, and investment consultant objectives.
• No transcript was available for the Cabinet Question Time meeting.
• The Publishable Officer Decisions meeting addressed Cycleway 9 budget realignments, an update to the Local Development Scheme, and inflation release requests.

Pension Fund Panel - Monday 07 April 2025

The Pension Fund Panel met to discuss various aspects of the Hounslow Pension Fund, including risk management, administration, and investment strategy.

The panel reviewed the updated risk register for the quarter ending 31 December 2024. The report pack stated that the Pensions Regulator requires schemes to identify, evaluate, record and monitor risks. A new heading, 'Resources and Skills', was added to the register, and the risk relating to pooling of assets was upgraded from amber to red.

The panel also received a monitoring report from West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF) on the administration service's performance between 1 October 2024 and 31 December 2024. The report indicated that WYPF generally met its target of completing 85% of processes within the allotted time. However, the report pack noted that the McCloud remedy¹, workload volumes and staffing levels are impacting performance in several areas. The report pack also stated that an underspend of £506k is being reported, including in the areas of staffing, computer and invest to save.

The panel noted the completed modules of the code compliance toolkit, which was reviewed by the Pension Board on 30 January 2025, and the timetable for reviewing the remaining modules. The report pack stated that the Pensions Regulator’s (TPR) General code of practice (GCOP) came into force in March 2024, setting out the expected conduct and practices for governing bodies to comply with pension legislation.

The panel were scheduled to approve the proposed strategic objectives for Investment Consultants of the Fund in line with the CMA requirements. The report pack stated that the Local Government Pension Scheme (Management and Investment of Funds) Regulations 2016 (R7) requires administering authorities to take proper advice from a qualified person when formulating their investment strategy. The report pack also stated that the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA), Investment Consultancy and Fiduciary Management Market Investigation Order 2019 requires Funds to set formal aims and objectives for their investment consultants.

The panel reviewed the proposed work programme for the Pension Fund Panel for the year 2025/26, and noted the training update and training log.

Finally, the panel noted the Quarterly Overview and General Matters Report, which provided an overview of the current valuation, general administrative and regulatory matters, of the Fund and an update on the income and expenditure for Quarter 3 of the financial year 2024/25. The report pack stated that at the end of December 2024, the net assets of the fund were worth £1,396.2m, 2.3% higher than the value at the end of September 2024 (£1,364.7m), and an upwards movement of 9.1% since the end of December 2023 (£1,279.7m).

Cabinet Question Time - Tuesday 08 April 2025

No transcript was available for the Cabinet Question Time meeting.

Publishable Officer Decisions - Thursday 10 April 2025

The Publishable Officer Decisions meeting addressed three key items: a budget realignment for Cycleway 9, an update to the Local Development Scheme (LDS), and inflation release requests.

The meeting approved a budget increase for phases 3C and 3D of the Cycleway 9 project to reflect the actual costs, with Transport for London (TfL) providing additional grant funding. Cycleway 9 is described in the report pack as:

a high-quality cycle route between Olympia and Brentford and is a major project under the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and a key part of borough’s Priority Cycle Network.

The report pack stated that the final costs for 3C were higher than the original TfL funding, with construction costs at £1,950,077 against original funding of £1,685,480. The claim for LBH project management costs was also £26,460 higher. A further purchase order for sum of £291,056 was issued by TfL to cover the outturn costs. The report pack stated that the final costs for Phase 3D were also higher than what was claimed from TfL, with construction costs at £3,856,886 against original funding of £3,469,566. The claim for LBH project management costs is also £38,732 higher. The report pack stated that the project had an increase in outturn cost due to various utility diversions and design changes.

The meeting also discussed a report on the Local Development Scheme (LDS). The LDS sets out the timetable for the council’s Local Development Plan, which includes the emerging Hounslow Local Plan 2020-2041, and the West London Waste Plan (WLWP). According to the report pack, on 13 December 2024, Joanna Averley, Chief Planner at the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), sent a newsletter to all Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) which stated that all local planning authorities should produce an updated LDS within 12 weeks of the publication of the NPPF², i.e. by no later than 6 March 2025. The letter also stated that the updated LDS should include clear, realistic, and specific dates for consultation and submission of the Local Plan, and asks that a copy of the LDS is sent to MHCLG, once updated.

The report pack stated that the revised timetable in the LDS targets submission of the emerging Local Plan in June 2025, with examination in Autumn 2025 and adoption of the Local Plan in Summer 2026.

Finally, the meeting discussed the allocation of £15,491,837 from the corporate inflation provision 2024/25 to service budgets for various items agreed at the Inflation Review Panel on 27 November 2024. These items included the Local Government Pay Award, Members Allowances, the Environment Agency Levy, Coroners and Mortuary Services, Waste Disposal Levy, SEN Transport, Waste and Recycling Collection Services, Children’s Direct Payments, Externally Provided Children’s Placements, Foster Carer Allowances, Adult Social Care, the Corporate Services Contract, Parks and Open Spaces Maintenance Contract, Building Cleaning Service, Temporary Accommodation, and Highways PFI Contractor Payments. The report pack stated that higher inflation since late 2021 has had a significant impact on the council’s budgets and costs.

This week in Hounslow:

• The Brentford and Syon Area Forum discussed weed management, the Brentford Leisure Centre, and updates from Transport for London (TfL).
• The Licensing Panel considered an application for a premises licence for L’Amore Coffee and More in Isleworth.
• The Overview and Scrutiny Committee reviewed updates on housing associations, resident experience, and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
• The Shareholder Committee noted the Lampton Group's £5.8m loss at the end of Q3 and discussed the need for additional cash flow support from the council.

Brentford and Syon Area Forum - Monday 31 March 2025

The Brentford and Syon Area Forum met to discuss weed management, the Brentford Leisure Centre, and updates from Transport for London (TfL). The meeting also provided an opportunity for ward updates from councillors and an open forum for residents to raise questions. Tim Hurley was scheduled to present the council's plan to create a more effective, long-term weed management strategy, addressing residents' concerns. Area Forum Chair Councillor Dan Bowring was scheduled to provide an update on the Brentford Leisure Centre. An update from TfL was scheduled, followed by a question and answer session. Councillors were scheduled to provide updates on ward-specific issues. The agenda included an open forum, offering the public a chance to address the meeting on agenda-related and other general issues.

Licensing Panel - Tuesday 01 April 2025

The Licensing Panel of Hounslow Council met to consider an application for a premises licence for L’Amore Coffee and More, a cafe in Isleworth. The applicant, L'Amore Coffee and More Ltd, sought permission to supply alcohol for consumption on the premises from Monday to Sunday, 09:00 to 23:00, and to open the premises from Monday to Sunday, 07:00 to 23:30. The council received two representations regarding the application, one from an individual and one from a residents association. Ward Councillors also submitted a representation, but withdrew it after the applicant agreed to add additional conditions to the licence. The police did not make a representation, as they agreed conditions with the applicant. The report pack included a letter from a resident raising concerns about anti-social behaviour, particularly by young men gathering in groups outside the cafe. The report pack also included a letter from a residents association objecting to the proposed operating hours and raising concerns about proximity to The Blue School and Gumley House Convent School, risk to pedestrian safety, noise pollution, increased risk of anti-social behaviour and crime, public safety concerns, potential for alcohol-related litter, and insufficient community consultation. The applicant's agent responded to the objections, stating that the applicant had agreed to additional conditions, including no drinking outside of the premises and the installation of a CCTV camera to cover the rear area of the premises. The police proposed additional conditions relating to CCTV, staff training, incident logs, signage, and the Challenge 25 policy¹. The report pack included extracts from the Hounslow Licensing Policy, which states that each application will be considered individually on its own merits, taking into account the operating schedule, suitability of the premises, any cumulative impact policy in effect, and any representations received.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday 02 April 2025

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss updates on housing associations, resident experience, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and the committee's work programme. The committee was scheduled to review the progress of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Programme and note the outcome of the Ofsted/CQC inspection and the resultant SEND and AP Strategic Improvement Plan. The committee was scheduled to note the achievements of the Resident Experience Project, review the benefits to be delivered during the Delivery Phase, and consider the introduction of structured Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and performance metrics. The committee was scheduled to review progress and comment on the work of housing associations locally. The report pack included updates from housing associations on progress related to better communications amongst housing professionals, better communications with local people, and greater focus on place. One such update from RHP Housing Association noted that they own and manage 885 homes in Hounslow, with 1,755 residents. In September 2024, they acquired 160 homes in Hounslow through a stock transfer from L&Q. One of their biggest estates in Hounslow is Butts Farm in Hanworth. RHP have recently acquired and taken over management of the former L&Q properties on Watermill Way, Basden Grove, Beach Grove, Edmund Grove, Evans Grove, Gatfield Grove, Hill Grove and River Crane Way. The committee was scheduled to review and comment on the work of its Scrutiny Panels and the North West London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The committee was scheduled to review the Forward Plan and consider whether work contained within it should come before the committee later in the municipal year. The committee was scheduled to review, consider, and then agree the committee’s work programme.

Shareholder Committee - Wednesday 02 April 2025

The Shareholder Committee of Hounslow Council met to discuss the performance of the Lampton Group, and noted that the group made a loss of £5.8m at the end of Q3. The committee was scheduled to note the Quarter 3 (Q3) 2024/25 financial and performance summary of the Lampton Group of companies. The report pack stated that the companies provide front-line services on behalf of the council and play a key role in helping the council achieve its corporate priorities. The report pack stated that the 2025/26 business plan full-year forecast loss of £0.8m across the Group is an improvement on the 2024/25 position, having moved away from one-off cost impacts in 2024/25 into a more stable position. The report pack stated that the Hounslow corporate risk register included the risk “FR0004 Financial exposure to Lampton Group of companies”, which is recorded as Medium High Risk. The report pack stated that continued trading losses are likely to require additional cash flow support from London Borough of Hounslow. The council will continue to review the provision it needs to make to mitigate any losses that the Group is recording. The report pack stated that the Executive Director of Finance and Resources had agreed to extend cash flow support to the Group to ensure that its staff and creditors can be paid and that vital services are not interrupted. At the time of writing the report, the council had received an updated report on the future cash flow needs of the companies, this indicates that Lampton Group will need an additional cash advance of £4.6m to support its activities in 2025/26. The report pack stated that the Shareholder Committee will expect to receive regular updates on both company and cash flow position performance. The full implications of the council providing additional cash advances for delivery of services will need further professional advice to ensure the council does not breach the provisions of the Subsidy Control Act 2022 or pay more to the companies than the amounts agreed for the services it will receive. The report pack stated that Lampton Development 360 LLP is carrying c£2m of feasibility costs on 4 sites that have not yet secured planning permission. To progress these sites further the council would need to provide financial support through a new loan or other arrangement. The committee was scheduled to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2025 as an accurate record, subject to the amendment of Robert Graves' name to Robert Overall in the list of attendees.