The Residents' Services Select Committee of Hillingdon Council met on Thursday, 13 June 2024, to discuss homelessness and the customer journey, weed control, and the success of the food waste scheme. Key decisions and discussions included the challenges faced by homelessness services, the impact of glyphosate on weed control, and the expansion of the food waste recycling service.

Review of Homelessness and the Customer Journey

The Committee held its second witness session on homelessness, featuring Dan Kennedy, Corporate Director of Central Services, and Carys Hedley, Director of Services at Trinity. Dan Kennedy highlighted the challenges local authorities face, such as the reduction in private rental accommodation and increasing unaffordability. He noted the Council's reliance on voluntary sector organisations like Trinity and Thames Reach for support.

Carys Hedley detailed Trinity's provision of 231 supported spaces and 41 long-term unsupported accommodation places in Hillingdon. She mentioned the support offered to families fleeing war and the reconnection service available to assist with tenancy sustainment. Hedley raised concerns about Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates, which have made it cheaper for people to stay in Trinity accommodation than move into the private rental sector. This has led to stagnation, with people ready to move on but unable to afford private rentals.

The Committee discussed the need for a specialist housing programme with full-time live-in support for individuals with complex needs, including drug, alcohol, and mental health issues. Hedley acknowledged the challenges in creating such a service due to the lack of housing stock in the Borough.

Councillors sought clarification on the impact of other boroughs placing residents in Hillingdon and vice versa. Hedley confirmed that Trinity prioritised Hillingdon residents but sometimes accepted others due to a lack of suitable referrals. The Committee also discussed the processes of working with the Council and how to improve them, highlighting the need for better systems and technology for case handovers and a more welcoming environment at the Civic Centre.

The Committee addressed the mental health of housing staff and the importance of good communication. The Corporate Director outlined plans to improve customer experience and engagement, including providing residents with weekly updates on their housing cases. The Committee also discussed the benefits of hiring staff with lived experiences to ensure non-judgmental treatment.

The session concluded with the Committee noting the evidence heard and seeking clarification as necessary in the context of its review of homelessness and the customer journey in Hillingdon.

Weed Control

Stuart Hunt, Head of Green Spaces, responded to Members' queries regarding weed control. He acknowledged staffing and machinery challenges from the contractor and weather-related issues in the previous year. Hunt assured Members that organisational changes, including additional staff and backup machines, had been implemented to improve performance.

The Committee raised concerns about the EU's ban on glyphosate and the UK's licensing extension. Hunt explained that glyphosate had been approved for use until December 2025 and that independent research was being conducted. He mentioned that alternatives would not be as effective in terms of weed control and that the Council limited its spraying to when it was required.

Members sought further clarity regarding alternative weed control products and contingency plans. Hunt confirmed that the Council relied on external research groups for guidance and had backup measures, including agency staff and licensed personnel, to manually weed if necessary.

The Committee noted the contents of the report and the update on weed control measures going forward for the next 12 months.

Food Waste - Success of the Scheme

Nicola Herbert, Head of Waste, responded to Members' questions regarding the success of the Council's food waste scheme. She confirmed that targeted engagement in the southern boroughs, particularly Botwell, had improved registration for the service from 20% to 60% of nearly 5,000 targeted properties.

Members enquired about the continuation of green roadshows to boost food waste recycling. Herbert confirmed that these events continued to be successful, with 19 events in the previous year resulting in 240 new sign-ups. She also addressed concerns about potential odour and vermin issues with food waste wheelie bins, assuring the Committee that trials showed no such problems.

The Committee discussed future targets for food waste caddy distribution and stock management, with a goal to add 20,000 properties to the service by the end of the financial year. Herbert also highlighted the financial benefits of food waste recycling and the use of the anaerobic digestion facility in Mitcham.

Members raised concerns about health and safety implications for food establishments and the impact of the Council's service on these matters. Herbert assured the Committee that the containers provided by the Council were secure and had lids to prevent decomposition and vermin attraction within a week.

The Committee noted the success of the food waste recycling scheme to date and the planned works to continue the expansion of the service.

For more information on the meeting, you can refer to the Agenda frontsheet, Minutes of Previous Meeting, and 240416 - Draft Minutes.