The Hounslow Borough Council met on 16 September 2025, and among other things, noted the State of the Borough 2025 report, approved the Hounslow Youth Justice Service Plan 2024-2027 (updated 2025), and agreed to participate in a flexible voting pilot for the May 2026 local elections, subject to government approval. The council also discussed tributes to the late Councillor Sukhbir Singh Dhaliwal, petitions, licensing policies, scrutiny reports, the appointment of a Chief Executive, appointments to committees, and motions on waste, child poverty, and culture.

Here's a more detailed look at the key discussion points:

• Councillor Hira Dhillon's Appointment
• Flexible Voting Pilot
• State of the Borough 2025
• Hounslow Youth Justice Service Plan 2024-2027
• Treasury Management Annual Report 2024/25
• Motions

Councillor Hira Dhillon's Appointment

Following a by-election held on 21 August 2025, the council noted the election of Councillor Hira Dhillon to the Cranford ward. Councillor Dhillon was subsequently appointed to the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel, the Revenues Appeals, the Corporate Parenting Panel, and the Licensing & General Purposes Committee, replacing Councillor Alan Mitchell and Councillor Unsa Chaudri on those bodies.

Flexible Voting Pilot

The council approved participation in a flexible voting pilot for the May 2026 local elections, pending approval from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The pilot aims to modernise the voting experience, improve accessibility, and support inclusive democratic engagement.

The proposed pilot includes early in-person voting at four static locations across the borough, as well as a mobile polling station, on the following dates and times:

• Friday 1 May (4pm–9pm)
• Saturday 2 May (9am–4pm)
• Sunday 3 May (9am–4pm)

The council delegated authority to the Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of the Council, to make the necessary arrangements to implement the pilot.

State of the Borough 2025

The council noted the State of the Borough 2025 report, an annual assessment of life in Hounslow. The report draws on a wide variety of up-to-date quantitative data from reliable sources, and supports the council's commitment to evidence-based decision making.

Key points from the report included:

• Hounslow is a borough of striking contrasts and extraordinary diversity, stretching from Zone 2 to the Home Counties.
• The borough is home to some of the most productive businesses in England, but these opportunities seem out of reach for some, with the median wage one of the lowest in the capital.
• Like much of London, Hounslow is a borough of declining birth rates, but its population continues to grow due to international migration.
• Too many children are overweight, and too many adults live with conditions that can limit their quality of life.

The report is structured around the council's corporate plan priorities: cleaner, greener, thriving, liveable, safer, and healthier.

Hounslow Youth Justice Service Plan 2024-2027

The council approved the Hounslow Youth Justice Service Plan 2024-2027 (updated 2025). The plan sets out how youth justice services in the area will be provided and funded, how they will operate, and what functions will be carried out.

The plan details how the Hounslow Youth Justice Service, together with partners through the Youth Crime Management Board (YCMB), will:

• Prioritise the best interests of children and ensure all work is child-focused.
• Review and learn from the past, recognise achievements, and consider current plans based on what is known now, as well as looking to the future.
• Consider current performance, including performance data against local and national indicators.
• Identify and understand the needs of children in the justice system and the priorities needed to support good outcomes.
• Involve input from children, their families and carers, enabling the voice of the child and user feedback and participation.

Treasury Management Annual Report 2024/25

The council noted the Treasury Management Annual Report 2024/25, which provides an overview of the council's treasury management activities during the financial year.

Key points from the report included:

• The council's total external debt position increased from £548.6m at 31 March 2024 to £608.6m at 31 March 2025, primarily due to borrowing undertaken to support the council's capital programme.
• The council's total investment position increased slightly over the year, from £59.2m at 31 March 2024 to £62.4m at 31 March 2025, reflecting higher average daily balances and a prudent liquidity strategy to manage day-to-day commitments.
• The council complied with the Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators during the 2024/25 financial year, but a compliance-related issue did arise due to late interest payments from Lampton Investment 360.
• The council launched its Community Municipal Investment (CMI) in June 2025, enabling residents to directly invest in local green initiatives.

Motions

The council also considered the following motions:

• Fixing our NHS and looking to the future: Proposed by Councillor Max Mosley and seconded by Councillor Lily Bath, this motion welcomed additional GP appointments, celebrated the fall in elective care waiting lists, and supported the creation of 'Hounslow Care Together' teams.
• A fairer, more equal Hounslow: Proposed by Councillor Marina Sharma and seconded by Councillor Hira Dhillon, this motion recognised the significant progress achieved as part of the council's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, and committed to continuing to recognise the Equality Opportunity Areas as a priority when considering investment proposals.
• Celebrating students and supporting parents: Proposed by Councillor Farah Kamran and seconded by Councillor Emma Yates, this motion congratulated students on their fantastic GCSE, A-Level and B-Tech results, and committed to supporting parents by promoting the School Clothing Grant support offer.