The Cabinet of Hillingdon Council met on Thursday, 23 April 2026, to discuss several key issues, approving a significant Highways Improvement Programme for 2026/27 and agreeing to the amalgamation of Whitehall Infant School and Whitehall Junior School. The Cabinet also reviewed the progress of the Temporary Accommodation Action Plan and agreed to proceed with the development of the Civic Centre Car Park into a residential care home.

Enhancing Fostering Provision and Support

The Cabinet welcomed the report from the Children, Families & Education Select Committee regarding Caring for Our Children - Enhancing Fostering Provision and Support. The committee's review, which included input from officers, foster carers, and care-experienced young people, identified opportunities to improve the Council's fostering offer. The Cabinet agreed to implement the committee's recommendations, which focus on enhancing information for children entering care, developing specialist training pathways for foster carers, and strengthening peer support networks. These changes aim to ensure young people have a safe and nurturing place to live.

Highways Improvement Programme 2026/27

The Cabinet approved the Highways Improvement Programme for 2026/27, which includes carriageway and footway resurfacing, highway drainage, and road marking improvements. A total of £8,207,000 will be released for the programme, with £3,207,000 of this being grant funding from the Department for Transport. Authority was delegated to the Corporate Director of Resident Services to amend the programme and determine further works, subject to sign-off by the Cabinet Member Portfolio Holder. All schemes will be published on the Council's website for transparency.

Proposal for the Amalgamation of Whitehall Infant School and Whitehall Junior School

Following consultation, the Cabinet approved the amalgamation of Whitehall Infant School and Whitehall Junior School to create a single, three-form-entry maintained primary school for children aged 3 to 11, effective from 1 September 2026. This will involve the technical closure of Whitehall Infant School on 31 August 2026 and the extension of Whitehall Junior School's age range. The decision was made in line with the Council's Infant and Junior School Amalgamation Policy, triggered by the impending retirement of the Whitehall Infant School's Headteacher. The amalgamation is expected to lead to consistent teaching approaches, increased opportunities for children, simplified communication for parents, and greater cost-effectiveness through economies of scale.

Temporary Accommodation Action Plan Monitoring

The Cabinet noted the quarterly update report on the delivery of the Temporary Accommodation Strategy and Action Plan. The report indicated continued progress in preventing homelessness and reducing the number of new temporary accommodation placements, with the service achieving its target for most of the year. Move-on rates into the private rented sector have also increased, and a rent cap programme has been successful in controlling cost inflation. Despite these successes, demand pressures remain high due to factors such as private sector evictions and regeneration-related decants. The report highlighted that the Council had surpassed its target for securing private sector tenancies for homeless households.

Development of the Civic Centre Car Park, Uxbridge into a Residential Care Home

The Cabinet agreed to progress the scheme to develop the Civic Centre Car Park in Uxbridge into a 162-bed residential care home. This decision follows previous agreements regarding the disposal of the car park site and the cessation of negotiations with a proposed purchaser. The Cabinet approved the appointment of Hunter and Partners Ltd for architectural and principal designer services, along with funding for various surveys, planning fees, and a contingency. A capital release of £488,211 was agreed from the Investment in Care Home Capacity budget. The Hillingdon Care Company intends to enter into a leaseback arrangement once the development is complete.

Commercial Gas Contract Tender

The Cabinet approved the award of a contract to BSW Heating Ltd for the servicing, repairs, and maintenance of communal and corporate commercial gas-fired heating installations. The contract will be for three years, with potential extensions up to a further four years, at an estimated value of £490,000 per annum. Authority was delegated to the Corporate Director of Residents Services to agree any extensions, subject to satisfactory performance.

Highways Term Service Contract

The Cabinet accepted the tender submitted by O'Hara Bros. Surfacing Ltd for a Highways Term Service Contract for a period of seven years, commencing 1 July 2026, with an estimated value of up to £99.4 million. The contract includes an option to extend for a further five years. Officers were instructed to actively pursue and maximise social value and commercial opportunities throughout the life of the contract.

Contract for Furniture within Short-Term Let Properties

The Cabinet accepted the tender from 4 Front Furniture LTD for the supply and installation of furniture for void properties. The contract will be for three years, with an option to extend for a further two years, at an estimated cost of £685,000 per year. This will enable the Council to furnish short-life properties more efficiently and at a lower cost.

Public Preview of Confidential Reports

The Cabinet noted the reports to be considered later in private and Part 2 of the agenda, allowing for public information purposes. This preview aims to provide transparency on matters that will be discussed in private due to containing exempt information, such as financial or business affairs, without prejudicing the Council's position.

Other Items

The Cabinet also noted the monthly Council budget monitoring report for January 2026 (Month 10), agreeing to put planned fee increases for the Imported Food Office on hold pending a review. They also approved the extension of the existing Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Temporary Accommodation placements for a further two years.

The Cabinet also agreed to extend the current contract with Dennis Eagle Limited for the provision of full maintenance and repair to the London Borough of Hillingdon Fleet for one year. Contracts for homecare, extra-care, and reablement services were also extended with Care Outlook Ltd and CCS Homecare Services Ltd. Finally, the Cabinet accepted a tender from Certas Energy UK Limited for the supply and delivery of Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel for the Council's fleet.