The Council met to elect a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor, and to approve changes to the Council's Constitution. The meeting also saw the appointment of the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet for the upcoming year.

Election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor

Councillor Reeta Chamdal was elected as the new Mayor of Hillingdon for the 2026/2027 municipal year, with Councillor Colleen Sullivan appointed as Deputy Mayor. The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Philip Corthorne, delivered a summary of his year in office, highlighting his engagements and the support he received. A vote of thanks was moved and seconded for Councillor Corthorne and his Mayoresses, Mrs Fiona Corthorne and Ms Hannah James, with badges presented to mark their service. The new Mayor, Councillor Chamdal, announced her husband, Mr Roy Chamdal, as her Consort and her children as her Escorts. Her nominated charity for the year will be Hillingdon Autistic Care and Support.

Appointment of Leader and Cabinet

Councillor Steve Tuckwell was appointed as the Leader of the Council for the next four-year period. Following this, Councillor Richard Mills was appointed as Deputy Leader, and the following Councillors were appointed to the Cabinet for 2026/27:

• Corporate Services, Digital & Transformation: Richard Mills
• Finance: Eddie Lavery
• Children, Families, Health and Care: Susan O'Brien
• Residents' Services: Wayne Bridges
• Community, Environment & Enforcement: Adam Bennett
• Planning, Housing & Property: Nick Denys

Review of Council Constitution

The Council approved several amendments to its Constitution. These included removing references to elected Members when executing contracts with the Common Seal of the Council, and delegating authority to the Head of Democratic Services to amend the Scheme of Members' Allowances to include eligibility for the Local Government Pension Scheme. The Constitution will also be updated to confirm the existing delegation to the Head of Democratic Services for minor technical or administrative amendments.

Key changes also involved approving revised delegations for writing off individual debt and approving the revised Chapter 6 of the Council Constitution, which includes the establishment of an Audit, Finance and Performance Committee. The Scheme of Members' Allowances will be amended to reflect a Special Responsibility Allowance for the Independent Chair of the Audit, Finance and Performance Committee.

During the debate on the Constitution, concerns were raised regarding proposed changes to delegations for writing off individual debt, particularly in light of issues at the Cowley Meeting Hall. Concerns were also voiced about the proposed committee structure, specifically the establishment of an Audit, Finance and Performance Committee, and whether external auditors and CIPFA would deem this beneficial. The motion to approve the changes was carried following a recorded vote.

Committee Allocations and Membership

The appointment of Committees, Sub-Committees, and their memberships for 2026/2027 were approved.

Select Committees' Annual Report

The Council received and noted the report detailing the work undertaken by the Select Committees during the 2025/26 municipal year. This report highlighted the significant scrutiny and oversight activities carried out by committees such as the Corporate Resources & Infrastructure Select Committee, the Children, Families & Education Select Committee, the Residents' Services Select Committee, and the Health & Social Care Select Committee. These committees reviewed various service areas, conducted in-depth reviews, and provided recommendations to the Cabinet.

Statement by the Leader of the Council

Councillor Tuckwell delivered a statement following his reappointment as Leader. He expressed pride in the Administration's campaign focused on delivering value for money, noting the increased majority and turnout in the recent elections. He outlined plans for the Administration, including a focus on tackling criminals, implementing proper HMO controls, and delivering local homes for local people. Councillor Tuckwell emphasised the council's commitment to being brilliant at the basics, protecting services like weekly bin collections, and making difficult decisions when necessary. He also mentioned the ongoing objection to Heathrow expansion and lobbying for fair recompense for financial pressures faced by the authority.