The Hillingdon Council meeting scheduled for 10 July 2025 included discussion of the council's financial position, committee membership, and responses to questions from both the public and council members. Councillors were also expected to consider motions relating to Heathrow Airport, waste collection charges, the Rural Activities Garden Centre (RAGC), and support for asylum seekers. The meeting was also scheduled to include the election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor

The meeting was scheduled to include the election of the Mayor for the 2025/2026 municipal year. Councillor Philip Corthorne was nominated and elected as Mayor, and he then appointed Councillor Reeta Chamdal as Deputy Mayor. The council was also scheduled to recognise the service of the outgoing Mayor, Councillor Colleen Sullivan.

Council Finances and Budget

The council was scheduled to note urgent decisions made since the last meeting, including a contract for revenues, benefits and housing systems, expansion of Meadow High School, the Hayes Estate regeneration, a finance modernisation programme, and the schools budget for 2025/26.

Councillors were also expected to discuss the Financial Improvement Programme initiated after the budget setting in February.

Committee Membership and Political Balance

Following the formation of the Hayes Independent Party Group, the council was scheduled to discuss changes to the membership of various committees to reflect the new political balance. These included the Licensing Committee, Pensions Committee, Registration and Appeals Committee, Appointments Committee, Residents Services Select Committee, Corporate Resources and Infrastructure Select Committee, and Hillingdon Planning Committee.

Rural Activities Garden Centre

Several questions and a motion related to the Rural Activities Garden Centre were scheduled to be discussed. Andrea Scrivens and John Scrivens, both of Broadwood Avenue, Ruislip, and representing the Friends of the RAGC, submitted questions about social care needs assessments and the possibility of a community asset transfer¹ for the RAGC. Isabel Stevenson of Parkfield Road, Ickenham, raised concerns about the safety of an alternative provision for RAGC attendees. Councillor Becky Haggar OBE asked about the impact of closing the RAGC's retail operation on horticultural therapy. Councillor Tony Burles questioned why alternative providers were not sought for the RAGC, as they were for the Beck Theatre and early years nursery centres.

Councillor Sital Punja also put forward a motion calling for Councillor Eddie Lavery, Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, to reconsider the decision to close the retail operations of the RAGC, citing failures in financial analysis, exploring alternative providers, assessing new provision, and providing reasonable adjustments for adults with learning disabilities.

Mark Pearman Scrivens of Mellow Lane East, Hayes, questioned the Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Edwards, about the council's management of the RAGC site, referencing previous closures of day centres.

Public Questions

In addition to the questions about the RAGC, members of the public submitted questions on other topics. Brian Lawrence of Meadow View Road, Hayes, asked about the cancellation of Hillingdon in Bloom & Autumn Show. Jash Patel of Leaholme Way, Ruislip, suggested charging an entrance fee for visitors from outside the borough to Ruislip Lido. Sarah Green of Iver Lane, Uxbridge, inquired about the remediation of the New Years Green landfill site and the pollution of the Ickenham Public Water Source.

Member Questions

Councillors submitted questions to Cabinet Members on various topics, including:

• The Financial Improvement Programme (Councillor Nick Denys to Councillor Martin Goddard)
• The Annual Education Standard's Report 2023/24 (Councillor Jan Sweeting to Councillor Susan O'Brien)
• The impact of closing the RAGC retail operation on social care provision (Councillor Becky Haggar OBE to Councillor Jane Palmer)
• Parking charges at Breakspear Crematorium (Councillor Peter Smallwood OBE to Councillor Eddie Lavery)
• The success of relocating Uxbridge Library (Councillor Keith Burrows to Councillor Eddie Lavery)
• Alternative providers for the RAGC (Councillor Tony Burles to Councillor Eddie Lavery)
• The rollout of the garden waste subscription scheme (Councillor Kaushik Banerjee to Councillor Eddie Lavery)
• Updates on Adult Social Care following a CQC inspection (Councillor Adam Bennett to Councillor Jane Palmer)
• Licensing obligations for properties with multiple occupants (Councillor Sital Punja to Councillor Steve Tuckwell)
• Budget monitoring reports (Councillor Gursharan Mand to Councillor Martin Goddard)

Motions

In addition to the motion relating to the RAGC, the council was scheduled to consider motions on the following topics:

• Opposition to a third runway at Heathrow Airport (Councillor Peter Curling)
• Scrutiny of waste collection charges (Councillor Stuart Mathers)
• Support for asylum seekers (Councillor Ian Edwards)

Northwest London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The council was scheduled to consider changes to the Terms of Reference for the Northwest London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (NWL JHOSC). The proposed changes would allow the JHOSC to formally respond to consultations on proposals for substantial developments or variations in health services across Northwest London.

Appointment of Statutory Officer

The council was scheduled to appoint a new Corporate Director of Finance to the statutory role of Section 151 Officer and Chief Financial Officer, once their appointment to the post of Corporate Director of Finance had been confirmed and they had commenced employment at the council. Councillor Andy Goodwin had been appointed as the interim S151 Officer at the previous council meeting.