The annual meeting of the Borough Council of the London Borough of Hounslow was scheduled to include the election of a new Mayor and the appointment of a Deputy Mayor, as well as the establishment of and appointments to various council bodies and outside organisations. Also on the agenda was a request to waive the six-month rule for Councillor Sukhbir Singh Dhaliwal due to ill health.

Election of Mayor and Appointment of Deputy Mayor

The meeting was to begin with the election of the Mayor for the upcoming municipal year, followed by the appointment of the Deputy Mayor. After these appointments, the outgoing Mayor, Councillor Karen Smith, was to be thanked for their service.

Establishment of and Appointments to Council Bodies

The council was scheduled to discuss the establishment and appointment of members to various council bodies for the 2025/26 municipal year. These bodies play a crucial role in the council's decision-making processes.

The report pack included a list of the bodies to which appointments were to be made, including:

• Sub-Groups of the Cabinet, such as the Shareholder Committee
• Overview and Scrutiny and Associated Sub-Groups, including the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Overview and Scrutiny Call-In Sub-Committee, the Children & Young People Scrutiny Panel, the Health & Adults Care Scrutiny Panel, and the Housing and Environment Scrutiny Panel
• Regulatory Bodies, including the Planning Committee, the Licensing and General Purposes Committee, the Licensing Panel, and the Audit and Governance Committee
• Other Bodies, such as the Pension Fund Panel, the Pension Board, the Revenues Appeal Panel, the Chief Officer Appointment Panel, the Schools Forum, the Corporate Parenting Panel, the Local Safeguarding Adults Board, the Hounslow Health and Wellbeing Board, the Hounslow Health and Wellbeing Board Children’s Delivery Group, and the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education
• Area Forums
• Additional Bodies, including the Tenants, Leaseholders and Sheltered Tenants Joint Consultative Committee, the Hounslow Community Safety Partnership Board, the Adoption, Fostering and Permanence Panel, and the Safer Neighbourhood Board

The report pack also included the proposed terms of reference for each of these bodies, which outline their responsibilities and functions.

Of particular note, the report pack mentioned a proposed change to the Terms of Reference for the North West London Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee¹ (NWL JHOSC). The proposal was to delegate the functions and powers available to local authorities to collectively respond to formal consultations on proposals for substantial developments or variations in health services affecting the area of North West London on behalf of all boroughs participating in the NWL JHOSC.

Following discussions between members authorities, it has become apparent, that the terms of reference for other JHOSC’s like South East London, North Central London and Inner North East London provide greater flexibility and remove any uncertainty about the power of the JHOSC being able to formally respond to proposals relating to substantial reconfigurations.

Appointments to Outside Bodies

The council was also scheduled to make appointments to various outside bodies for the 2025/26 municipal year. These appointments help maintain connections between the council, these organisations and the communities they serve.

The report pack listed a number of national, London and Hounslow organisations to which the council was invited to appoint representatives. These included:

• Local Government Association General Assembly
• London Councils' Leaders' Committee
• London Councils' Associated Joint Committee (London Councils Transport and Environment Committee)
• London Councils' Associated Joint Committee (London Councils Grants Committee)
• London Councils' Greater London Employment Forum
• West London Waste Authority
• Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Council of Governors
• Crane Valley Park Steering Group
• London Road Safety Council
• Mortlake Crematorium Board
• Reserve Forces & Cadets Association (Greater London)
• South West Middlesex Crematorium Board
• Thames Landscape Strategy Steering Group
• Thames Water Liaison Committee
• Twickenham Stadium Events Committee
• Bedfont Lakes Country Park Trust Fund Panel
• Blue School Foundation Trust
• Brentford and Chiswick Merged Charities
• Brentford Dock Limited
• Chiswick House and Gardens
• Chiswick Parochial Charities
• Chiswick Pier Trust
• Disability Network Hounslow
• Hanworth Village Hall Management Committee
• Heston & Isleworth Old People's Welfare Committee
• Heston Parochial Charities
• Hounslow Community Association Ltd
• Hounslow Community Transport Management Committee
• Hounslow Heath Advisory Committee
• Hounslow Music Service
• Hounslow Virtual College for Looked After Children, Post 16 and Care Leavers Management Board
• Thomas Layton Museum Trust
• Town Twinning Association of Hounslow
• Watermans

Waiver of Councillor Attendance Rule

The council was to consider a report regarding the waiver of the six-month councillor attendance rule for Councillor Sukhbir Singh Dhaliwal². Due to ongoing ill health, Councillor Dhaliwal has not been able to attend council meetings since 4 December 2024.

Section 85 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 requires a councillor to attend at least one meeting within a six-month period to avoid disqualification, but this can be waived due to illness or other reasons approved by the council. The report pack asked the council to consider approving an extension to this rule, allowing Councillor Dhaliwal to remain in office.