Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

RESOLVED:  That all items of business be considered in public.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2020 be agreed as a correct record. 

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting.  Mr Toby Elliott, Head of Communications (Western Route) at Network Rail (NR), advised that NR was responsible for the above ground works on the east and west side of the Crossrail works.  This work had included upgrades to the track and improvements to signalling.  It had also included the extension of electrification from Heathrow to Cardiff and Reading to Newbury.  Mr Elliott noted that, although a new timetable had been introduced in December 2019, there had since been changes made to the timetable as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Mr Colin Prime, Programme Sponsor for Network Rail’s Crossrail Project Works, understood residents’ and Members’ frustration that the works at Hayes & Harlington and West Drayton stations had not yet been completed.  Despite the pandemic, progress was being made at these two stations and the structure at Hayes & Harlington was now starting to take shape and was on track for completion in the early autumn of 2021.  Lift shafts and footbridges had been installed. 

Mr Richard Griffiths, Head of Communications (Projects) - Wales and Western at NR, advised that NR had produced a monthly briefing for stakeholders to provide updates on the progress of the works being undertaken.  He suggested that, if any Member wanted to receive this monthly update, they should contact him and he would be happy to add them to the distribution.

Mr David Brough, Chair of Hayes Town Partnership (HTP), advised that passenger drop off continued to be a problem because NR had sold off the land adjoining Hayes & Harlington station to Ballymore for the High Point development.  Ballymore had employed a parking enforcement officer to issue parking tickets costing £100 to anyone dropping passengers off in Station Approach or turning in the road and he believed that an adequate solution had not yet been found.  Following intervention, Ballymore had erected clearer signage to notify drivers of the enforcement action being undertaken.

Mr Ajaib Puar Singh, Chairman of Hayes Town Business Forum, noted that the businesses and residents of Hayes were pleased that improvements were being made to the station and to the town centre.  However, if residents and visitors were receiving parking tickets, this was likely to influence whether or not they came back to the town again which would have an impact on the people and businesses in Hayes. 

There had been a long-standing challenge with regard to drivers being issued with parking tickets when dropping rail passengers off in Station Approach, Hayes, which was a particular issue for those passengers with mobility issues.  Mr Griffiths advised that two drop off spaces had recently been proposed as well as two long stay reduced mobility spaces.  This issue had been high on the agenda and was now in the design stage.  Mr Brough believed that two drop off spaces would be inadequate as the queue of cars wanting to drop off passengers at times extended into Station Road.

Mr David Knowles, the Council’s Head of Transport and Town  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Consideration was given to the Committee’s Work Programme.  The Vice Chairman congratulated the Chairman on his imminent appointment to Cabinet and praised his excellent chairmanship during his time at the helm of the External Services Select Committee. 

It was noted that the Programme of Meetings 2021/2022 had not been included on the Council agenda for the meeting on 14 January 2021.  Instead, it would be considered by the Council at its meeting on 25 February 2021. 

It was agreed that the next External Services Select Committee meeting on 9 February 2021 would be virtual.  At this meeting, it had previously been agreed that, in addition to an update on post office services, Members would receive and update on the infection prevention and control measures that had been put in place at Hillingdon Hospital, an update on the flu vaccination programme and an update report on the implementation of the recommendations from the GP pressures review that had been considered by Cabinet at the beginning of 2020.  Members agreed that the meeting on 9 February 2021 would receive the post office update and GP pressures review update as planned but that they also receive an update on the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine in the Borough including a BAME breakdown for COVID-related deaths and hospital admissions. 

The Committee agreed that, instead of attendance at the meeting on 9 February 2021, Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group would be asked to provide a briefing note on the effectiveness of the flu vaccination programme for circulation to Members.  Furthermore, it was agreed that the meeting on 28 April 2021 receive an update on infection prevention and control measures at Hillingdon Hospital, the new hospital development and a general update from The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (THH).  All other Trusts would then be invited to attend the meeting on 29 April 2021 to provide general health updates.  The Trust Quality Account reports for 2020/2021 would be reviewed and responded to outside of formal Committee meetings. 

It was noted that, if Councillor Denys was elected on 14 January 2021 as Chairman of the External Services Select Committee as proposed, a meeting would be organised for him with the new Chief Executive at THH, Ms Patricia Wright.  In addition, the Chairman would need to have regular meetings with NHS England / Improvement regarding the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre review and with Mr Jason Seez at THH regarding the Hillingdon Hospital redevelopment. 

RESOLVED:  That the Work Programme, as amended, be agreed.