The Residents' Services Select Committee meeting was scheduled to receive updates on various council services, including an introduction to the council's overview and scrutiny process, and to review the Cabinet Forward Plan and the Committee's Work Programme. The meeting also included scheduled service briefings.

Introduction to Overview & Scrutiny in Hillingdon

The committee was set to receive an introductory report on the role of overview and scrutiny within Hillingdon Council. This report aimed to inform committee members about how select committees operate, the principles of effective overview and scrutiny, and the specific arrangements in Hillingdon, which are aligned with Cabinet Member portfolios and Officer Directorates. The report also outlined the general responsibilities of select committees, including monitoring the Cabinet Forward Plan, post-decision scrutiny, and undertaking policy reviews. The structure for budget and performance scrutiny was also to be discussed, noting a shift towards the Audit, Finance & Performance Committee for routine reporting, with select committees retaining a role in scrutinising finance and performance within their service areas.

Service Briefings

Under this agenda item, the committee was scheduled to receive verbal updates on various service areas within its remit. These included an introduction to overview and scrutiny in Hillingdon, the Forward Plan, and the Committee's Work Programme.

Update on the Council's Legal and Policy Framework for Houses in Multiple Occupation

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the council's legal and policy framework for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The report pack indicated that officers would be present to respond to questions regarding enforcement actions, the impact of the Renters' Rights Act, and the council's approach to licensing and regulation of HMOs. Discussions were expected to cover the effectiveness of enforcement, the anticipated increase in civil penalties following the Renters' Rights Act, and the timescales for responding to complaints. The report pack also highlighted that data on housing conditions was based on modelling rather than direct inspection, and that anti-social behaviour incidents linked to HMOs were drawn from council data. The committee was also scheduled to hear about the prioritisation of cases, expected improvements in housing conditions, the impact of Article 4 directions, and licensing timescales.

Sport and Physical Activity for Young People

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on sport and physical activity initiatives for young people. The report pack indicated that discussions would cover the impact of COVID-19 on physical activity rates, efforts to promote activity in schools, and participation in events like the London Youth Games. The utilisation of leisure facilities, such as the athletics track and the Platinum Jubilee Leisure Centre, and the potential for GLL community grants were also on the agenda. The role of Active Lives data in influencing service and funding decisions was to be explored, alongside suggestions for extending promotion of physical activity to GP surgeries and potential funding support from Heathrow Airport Limited. The integration of public health across policy areas and the continued availability of the GP referral scheme were also to be discussed.

Update on Homeless Prevention Review

An update on the Homeless Prevention Review was scheduled, with officers expected to address concerns regarding the implementation of the Renters' Rights Act and its potential impact on homelessness. The report pack indicated that discussions would focus on the common reasons for prevention attempts failing, including private sector evictions, family exclusion, and domestic abuse. The report also mentioned the improved ability to forecast the use of nightly-paid temporary accommodation and the potential utilisation of empty council-owned properties. The committee was also expected to consider the presentation of homelessness data alongside comparative figures from neighbouring boroughs and discuss timescales for improving case management processes.

Forward Plan

The committee was scheduled to review the Cabinet Forward Plan, which outlines key decisions and other decisions to be taken by the Cabinet and Cabinet Members over the coming year. The report pack indicated that the committee would consider its role in providing comments on items within its remit before decisions are made, requesting further information, and identifying reports that may merit post-decision review.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review its Work Programme for the current municipal year. This included noting future meeting dates and planning its activities. The report pack also mentioned planned site visits, including to the Council's CCTV control room, Manor Farm Heritage Site, Eastcote House Gardens, Woodlands Visit, Battle of Britain Bunker, Harmondsworth Barn, and Cranford Park. The work programme also detailed the planned discussion of various service and performance reports throughout the year.

The meeting was scheduled to include the confirmation of minutes from previous meetings held on 22 April and 14 May 2026. The committee was also to confirm that all agenda items would be considered in public.