Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Committee Room 5 - Civic Centre. View directions
Contact: Anisha Teji, Senior Democratic Services Officer Email: ateji@hillingdon.gov.uk or 01895 277655
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Apologies for Absence Minutes: There were no apologies for absence. |
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Declarations of interest in matters coming before this meeting Minutes: None. |
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Minutes of the previous meeting Minutes: RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting on 17 June 2025 be agreed. |
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To confirm that the items of business marked as Part I will be considered in Public and that the items marked as Part II will be considered in Private Minutes: It was confirmed that all items would be heard in Part I.
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Progress on the Delivery of the Hillingdon Cycle Strategy Minutes: The Transport Planning & Projects Team Leader presented the Hillingdon Cycle Strategy, launched in September 2024 after a consultation that received nearly 200 responses. A strong majority supported the strategy’s ambitions and believed it would encourage more cycling. Since its launch, the Council had worked with Transport for London (TfL), hosted a borough-wide cycling event, and welcomed the London Walking and Cycling Commissioner. Initiatives included adult and school-based cycle training, doctor bike sessions, new crossings and upgrades to towpaths and junctions. Cycle parking grants were awarded to five schools, new facilities were installed in local town centres and improvements had been made in Harefield. The Council also began developing a walking and wheeling strategy and continued to report progress to TfL.
During the meeting, it was noted that no new school cycle or scooter parking spaces had been delivered in 2023–24, but 25 were added in 2024–25. Bikeability Level 2 training numbers rose from 1,059 to 1,103. Although TfL provided data, no change in cycling rates had yet been observed, likely due to reporting delays. TfL awarded £451,000 for cycle schemes in the current year, supporting further strategy development.
Members supported the strategy and emphasised using existing green pathways and alleyways for cycling and walking. Concerns were raised about painted cycle lanes on major roads and Members suggested a multi-pronged approach involving education, infrastructure, and community events. Suggestions included cycling events, partnerships with local bike shops and better promotion of cycling.
It was confirmed that Bikeability training was offered to all Year 6 pupils and that adult training was available at a secure track. Pre-COVID initiatives such as “Bikespiration on Tour” had been successful and could be developed. Long Lane was identified as a flagship project, with feasibility studies underway and implementation expected within two to three years.
The Council was working with TfL to improve junctions, especially over the A40, and was promoting lesser-known routes like the one near Swakeleys. A digital map of non-road pathways was proposed to help residents plan safer routes. Secure bike parking was being improved at Northwood, Northwood Hills and Ruislip Gardens tube stations, with plans to expand further.
Safety concerns, particularly around school travel, were discussed. Suggestions included bollards at junctions and group cycling initiatives like “cycle buses.” The Pield Heath Cycle Track offered facilities for disabled cyclists, including tandem and wheelchair bikes.
Although no new cycle lanes had been added in recent years, junction upgrades were underway to improve safety and connectivity. The Council was monitoring the rise of scooters and e-bikes, noting antisocial behaviour and the need for future regulation.
Dockless bike schemes were discussed, with concerns about fly parking and lack of local control. A unique scheme operated by Brunel University was due to end, and the Council was exploring taking it over. The importance of engaging underrepresented communities in cycling was highlighted, with examples like the Asian Ladies Cycling Club in Hayes.
The discussion concluded with strong support for the strategy and a shared commitment to promoting safe, inclusive and ... view the full minutes text for item 87. |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: The Head of Libraries & Cultural Services and the Operations and Resources Manager presented information for witness session 2 in the Committee’s review on Maximising Council Spaces: A Review of Business and Private Hire Opportunities. These included rooms in libraries, theatres, museums, and other venues not classified as office blocks or housing. It was acknowledged that there was no centralised register of all the Council’s assets, making it difficult to assess the full scope of available properties. Some assets were in disrepair and potentially suitable for sale, while others could be refurbished or were already generating income but had potential for greater returns.
The library service presented its experience managing venue hire, highlighting the use of the BookingPlus system, which had been implemented a year earlier. This system streamlined bookings, reduced staff workload, and provided valuable data. Libraries across the Borough, including Ruislip, Hillingdon and Hayes, offered meeting rooms for hire. Other Council venues such as theatres and heritage sites also provided hireable spaces, with libraries offering the most robust data due to the digital system in place.
The Committee discussed the potential to expand the BookingPlus system across other council departments. It was noted that adapting the system for broader use would require development work and standardised pricing structures. The idea of tiered pricing was explored, including resident vs non-resident rates and commercial vs community use. Members supported using Council venues to support small businesses and community groups, with examples such as Age UK hiring space at Ruislip Manor Library.
The Committee emphasised the need for a comprehensive asset register to identify underused or unknown properties.
Concerns were raised about the scalability of the system and the need to understand local demand before investing in upgrades. It was noted that some areas, such as Uxbridge, showed high demand, while others, such as Ickenham, had ample alternative venues. The importance of engaging with the Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders to assess business needs was highlighted.
The Committee acknowledged the success of the library service in generating income, over £90,000 annually, even with only 16% of available time booked. Members discussed the importance of balancing commercial hires with community access and avoiding overreliance on large corporate partners like Barclays. The need for integration with Council finance systems was also noted, with current processes involving some manual reconciliation.
The Committee agreed that an interim report be presented to Cabinet, noting the findings thus far and recognising the importance of acting quickly to capitalise on unused assets to build a sustainable, flexible and community-friendly venue hire model across the Borough.
RESOVLED: That the Committee:
1. noted the evidence heard during witness session 2. 2. requested that Democratic Services prepare an interim report outlining the findings to date, for submission to Cabinet |
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Financial Scrutiny Training - Verbal Update Minutes: The Committee was informed that a financial scrutiny training session had been arranged for 10 September 2025.
RESOLVED: That the Committee notes the update. |
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Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Forward Plan be noted.
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Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED: That the Work Programme be noted.
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