Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

That:

a)    the London Borough of Hillingdon become a member of the Joint Committee of the London boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow and Hounslow (known as the “West London Economic Prosperity Board”);

b)   the revised Functions and Procedure Rules as set out in the report, be adopted, noting that these will also need to be adopted by all other participating boroughs to take effect;

c)    the Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing & Growth be appointed as the Council's voting member of the Joint Committee, with the Cabinet Member for Community & Environment as reserve voting Member;

d)   authority to sign any further documentation relating to implementing the decision above, be delegated to the Director of Planning & Sustainable Growth, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing & Growth.

Reasons for decision

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing & Growth asked Cabinet to approve Hillingdon joining the West London Economic Prosperity Board alongside six West London Alliance partners, including Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow and Hounslow. The Board was described as a joint committee focused on driving economic growth, investment and regeneration across West London. Membership would enable Hillingdon to contribute to regional strategic decisions on planning, infrastructure and skills, ensuring the borough could influence outcomes that directly benefit residents and businesses.

The Cabinet Member explained that Hillingdon would retain all its existing powers and that no decision-making authority would be transferred. Joining the Board would allow the Council to collaborate on shared priorities while continuing to act independently for the borough. It was confirmed that there would be no direct cost to joining, and any future funding or investment decisions would return to Cabinet for approval. There was also a need to consider the adoption of revised Functions and Procedural Rules for the Board, which would be considered by all participating boroughs.

Cabinet, therefore, decided to join the West London Economic Prosperity Board and agreed it’s revised Functions and Procedure Rules.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided not to join the Board, but considered that it would not be in the Council’s interests being unable to influence strategic economic outcomes in the West London region.