The Residents' Services Select Committee were scheduled to discuss animal welfare and licensing, allotments, a review of topic selection, the forward plan and the work programme.

Animal Welfare and Animal Licensing

The Residents' Services Select Committee were scheduled to discuss a report providing information on animal welfare and animal licensing.

The report outlined the council's responsibilities under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. The regulations require local authorities to have a competent and qualified officer to carry out inspections. The activities covered by the regulations include:

• selling animals as pets
• providing boarding for cats
• providing boarding for dogs in kennels
• providing boarding for dogs in a residential home (home boarding)
• providing day care for dogs (commercial business with no overnight stays for dogs)
• hiring out horses for riding or instruction
• dog breeding (for those in scope of the regulations)
• training animals for exhibition

The report stated that there are currently three premises licensed for hiring out horses, one for breeding dogs, three for boarding cats, five for home boarding dogs, two for day care for dogs, one providing kennels for dogs and four for selling animals as pets.

The report also included case studies, including one from 2018 where Galyna Khudyakova and Volodymyr Tymoshenko were fined nearly £50,000 for breeding and selling dogs and cats without a licence. The report stated that the council was awarded £282,738 in a possession order, and that the defendants are currently continuing to pay these costs to the council in monthly instalments of £350.

The report also stated that animal welfare reports are on the rise, with 15 received in the first six months of 2025, compared to 9 in the whole of 2024.

The report also discussed the updated Council Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) which came into force on 1 May 2025. The PSPO imposes a number of offences for dog walkers, including:

• a person in sole charge of 4 dogs in a public space without a dog walkers licence
• a person in sole charge of 6 dogs in a public space with a dog walkers licence
• a person in charge of a dog that defecates on land within the 'restricted area' and fails to remove the faeces

The report also noted that the Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023 require that all cats and dogs in England be microchipped by a certain age and registered on a compliant database.

The report also discussed animal disease and contingency plans, noting that the two most prevalent diseases currently are avian influenza and bluetongue.

Allotments

The Residents' Services Select Committee were scheduled to receive an update on allotments in Hillingdon. The report stated that the council manages 27 allotment sites across the borough, comprising approximately 1,300 plots, and that these sites are in high demand, with over 500 residents on the waiting list.

The report noted that the recent appointment of a dedicated Allotment and Fisheries Officer has significantly improved the council's ability to manage and enhance these spaces. The officer is conducting a full assessment of all 27 sites, evaluating the condition of each of the 1,300 plots, identifying vacant plots, and addressing issues such as unauthorised encroachment, non-cultivation, rubbish dumping, sub-letting, and absentee tenants.

The report stated that since the officer's appointment, 245 plots have been successfully allocated, compared to just 91 in the previous 35 months.

The report also set out the benefits of allotments to residents, including:

• physical activity
• mental health
• healthy eating
• community building
• intergenerational learning
• cultural exchange
• biodiversity
• sustainability
• cost savings
• skill development
• educational opportunities

The report also included financial information, including that the total income generated from allotment plot rentals is £8149.70, and that the annual budget is £21,200.

The report also outlined the legal implications of allotments, including that local authorities are legally required to consider requests for allotments when six or more registered electors make a formal request, and that allotment tenants must sign a tenancy agreement that outlines permitted uses and prohibited activities.

The report included a pricing schedule, which showed the current charges for renting a plot, including any variations by size or site, and any discounts or financial assistance available for those on low incomes. The pricing schedule also stated that the council offers a 50% reduction for those on benefits or PIP¹. The report also included a list of all allotment sites in Hillingdon, showing the number of places, occupied plots, vacant plots, and the waiting list.

The report also included the Allotment Garden Tenancy Terms and Conditions, which set out the rules and regulations for allotment holders.

Review Topic Selection

The Residents' Services Select Committee were scheduled to discuss ideas regarding suitable review topics for the select committee. The report provided potential new and previous review topics and guidance on the committee's remit, an overview of how reviews can be undertaken, and a scorecard to use to assess.

The report noted that the committee's direct remit of activity is in relation to the Cabinet Member for Community & Environment and the Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing & Growth.

The report also included a list of previous policy reviews, including:

• Homeless Prevention and the Customer Journey (2024/25)
• Alleygating in Hillingdon (2023/24)
• Empty Homes and Council Tax (2022/23)
• Our engagement with tenants and leaseholders (2021/22)
• Review into Littering and Fly-tipping (2020/21)
• Community safety and new policing structures in Hillingdon (2019/20)

The report also listed possible topics under current consideration, including funfairs and the parking enforcement contract.

Forward Plan

The Residents' Services Select Committee were scheduled to monitor the Cabinet's latest forward plan, which sets out key decisions and other decisions to be taken by the Cabinet collectively and Cabinet Members individually over the coming year.

Work Programme

The Residents' Services Select Committee were scheduled to consider the work programme report. The report included the following meeting dates:

• 9 September 2025
• 6 November 2025
• 8 January 2026
• 18 February 2026
• 10 March 2026
• 22 April 2026

The report noted that members of the Residents' Services Select Committee have undertaken a number of site visits to include the CCTV room in the Civic Centre, Harlington Road Depot, Heathrow Imported Food Office, Hillingdon Fire Station, Botwell Leisure Centre, Breakspear Crematorium, the Recycling Centre at Edmonton, visits with the Traffic Wardens and the Noise Team, and Heathrow Skills Academy.