Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

None.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the previous meeting dated 18 February 2026 be agreed.

It was confirmed that all items of business were marked as Part I and would be considered in public.

Fiona Gibbs, Stronger Communities Manager, was in attendance, together with representatives of Bell Farm Christian Centre (Diane Faichney) and of Hillingdon Women’s Centre (Kayci Powell and Melanie Aston).

Diane Faichney of Bell Farm Christian Centre was invited to address Members of the Select Committee. It was explained that the Centre was a charitable organisation based on the Bell Farm Estate in West Drayton, established in 2000, which had delivered a wide range of community projects over many years in response to local needs. Members were informed that the charity operated a long?standing advice centre, which had been running for approximately 25 years and was partly funded through the Hillingdon Advice Partnership (HAP). This service was delivered in partnership with Nucleus, DASH and Age UK and operated twice weekly alongside the food bank. The organisation was also a founding partner of the UB7 Foodbank, established in 2017, and worked holistically to enable referrals between services.

Members heard that additional activities included an older people’s dining and social centre providing weekly freshly cooked meals, social activities, and trips, as well as children’s events, summer holiday clubs and year?round family activities. Over the previous three years, the charity had also undertaken work supporting asylum seekers accommodated in local hotels.

It was reported that, over the preceding six months, the organisation had experienced harassment directed at staff and volunteers due to its work with asylum seekers. This included significant criminal damage to the premises, with windows and doors repeatedly smashed, resulting in substantial financial costs. These incidents were attributed to a small minority of individuals and had caused division and intimidation within the estate. As a result, the delivery of asylum seeker support services had been adapted and relocated away from Bell Farm, although the work itself had continued. An application for Home Office funding to improve building security had been submitted in December, but a decision was still awaited, and it was noted that existing security infrastructure was outdated and difficult to upgrade due to limited charitable resources.

Despite these challenges, it was highlighted that the organisation had recently secured funding to become a “Loved and Wanted” Centre, supported by the Mayor of London in partnership with the National Lottery. This programme focused on community building and the creation of safe community spaces across London and would contribute to enhancing existing activities at Bell Farm until March 2028. The initiative aimed to embed social mixing and cohesion programmes and was expected to reach approximately 3,000 people per year. Delivery partners, including REAP and HACS, would provide additional activities such as wellbeing courses as part of the project.

It was emphasised that this funding had been secured at a critical time of heightened community tension in West Drayton and increasing financial pressures on the voluntary sector, alongside rising demand for services that exceeded current capacity. It was expressed that the Loved and Wanted Centre would help to restore hope, strengthen community cohesion and foster togetherness over the coming years. The organisation confirmed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 151.

Chief Inspector Ben Wright of the Metropolitan Police Service, Daniel Johnson (Borough Commander for Hillingdon - London Fire Brigade) and Richard Webb, Director of Community Safety and Enforcement were in attendance to respond to Members’ questions regarding the Safer Hillingdon Partnership update report. Councillor Wayne Bridges, Cabinet Member for Community & Environment, was also in attendance.

Councillors sought clarification on when the Safer Hillingdon Partnership Strategy, approved by Full Council, would begin to be implemented. Officers explained that the Strategy had now been formally adopted and published, and that work had already begun through the Safer Hillingdon Partnership on developing a delivery plan agreed by all partners. This delivery plan set out priority themes, associated activities, and performance measures to track progress. It was also reported that partners had reviewed a more comprehensive data dashboard, drawing together information from council services and partner organisations to provide a clearer picture of crime and disorder across the Borough and to assess the effectiveness of interventions. It was confirmed that, once outstanding details had been finalised, the delivery plan would be published and presented at a future meeting to allow Members to monitor progress against the agreed priorities.

Members asked about the London Fire Brigade’s preparedness for incidents relating to Heathrow Airport. It was confirmed that the Fire Brigade routinely trained and prepared for a wide range of scenarios, including those associated with Heathrow. It was stated that six- and eight?minute response times for first and second fire engines were maintained across London in more than 95 per cent of cases. Local fire stations also undertook regular training programmes to ensure readiness for the broad range of incidents that could arise in and around the airport.

The Committee enquired how intelligence was shared between agencies where crime risks and fire hazards overlapped, such as in cases involving cannabis factories. It was explained by the Police that joint working arrangements with the London Fire Brigade were well established, particularly through shared command, control, and communications structures used for major and critical incidents. While electricity providers were often the primary agency involved in cannabis factory cases, close liaison existed and the Fire Brigade would be involved where fire risk was present. The London Fire Brigade Borough Commander confirmed regular engagement with senior police officers, participation in borough security review meetings, and close alignment of borough risk management plans with identified threats. In addition, it was confirmed that the Brigade’s fire safety regulation team was working alongside police partners locally to identify and mitigate risks wherever possible.

Members sought further clarification regarding police visibility, noting that residents frequently reported rarely seeing uniformed police patrols, a concern often raised at Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) meetings. They asked how often local police officers were abstracted from the Borough to support protests and events in central London. Clarification was sought on the scale of this abstraction, including any available figures or percentages indicating how much officer time was spent outside the Borough.

In response, the Chief Inspector explained that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 152.

Richard Webb, Director of Community Safety and Enforcement, Daniel Ferrer, Licensing Team Manager, and Dave Holmes, ASB Team Leader, were in attendance to respond to Members’ queries and requests for clarification in relation to the report included in the agenda pack. Councillor Wayne Bridges, Cabinet Member for Community & Environment was also in attendance.

Members commented that the Council’s website did not provide an option for reporting littering from a vehicle, noting that they had personally witnessed such an incident and had been unable to report it online. The Chair responded that this feedback would be noted and advised that the relevant Cabinet Member was present and would have heard the comment, particularly in relation to improvements to the Members’ enquiries process and the “Clean Up My Streets” application.

Councillors asked how the Council’s use of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) compared with neighbouring boroughs. Officers replied that Hillingdon was broadly comparable, explaining that FPNs were a mechanism to avoid prosecution and that the Council focused on maintaining high standards and working with available evidence. It was noted that while some boroughs issued higher numbers of tickets, officers could not comment on comparative success rates.

The Committee asked what steps had been taken to improve signage, clarity of restrictions and public awareness in areas with high volumes of enforcement activity, particularly in relation to engine idling and footway obstructions. Councillors cited cases where residents felt signage was inadequate or absent when entering enforcement zones. Officers responded that signage was an ongoing challenge; efforts were made to install signage where required, though signs could be removed or deteriorate and were replaced when possible. Officers added that information was also available on the Council’s website and that enforcement measures were subject to consultation processes with relevant organisations.

Members raised concerns about FPNs issued to businesses for waste documentation, questioning whether internal checks were undertaken where businesses used the Council’s own waste services. It was suggested that issuing FPNs without first checking internal records was a potential waste of officer time and resources. Officers clarified that FPNs were not issued immediately; instead, a notice was served allowing seven days for documentation to be produced, with an FPN issued only if this was not provided. Officers acknowledged past issues with inter-departmental communication and confirmed that closer working arrangements were now in place with waste services, including the sharing of lists of businesses with Council waste contracts. It was explained that, following a review of processes, regular inter-team meetings had been established across enforcement, anti-social behaviour (ASB) and licensing functions to share information, identify problematic premises and ensure proportionate and coordinated enforcement.

The Cabinet Member added that waste services and enforcement teams were now working proactively together, with a programme being rolled out to visit all premises, maintain a register of visits and actions taken, and ensure businesses held appropriate licences and waste contracts. It was explained that intelligence was continually updated due to the high turnover of businesses, and enforcement activity was targeted accordingly.

Members enquired  ...  view the full minutes text for item 153.

Dan Kennedy, Corporate Director – Residents’ Services, Matt Davis, Director – Strategic & Operational Finance and Ceri Lamoureux – Head of Finance – Residents’ Services were in attendance to respond to Members’ queries in respect of the Budget and Spent report.

Members referred to point 19 of the report on page 78 and noted that the gross budget pressure was largely driven by temporary accommodation and homelessness support, with Heathrow having a material effect on local supply and demand. It was highlighted that 82% of rough sleepers were not Heathrow?driven, and clarification was sought on what actions were being taken to ensure the remaining target was achievable and how overall homelessness numbers were being reduced.

In response, it was explained that a proactive approach had been adopted. Members heard that officers were working closely with private sector landlords, identified as one of the largest sources of homelessness presentations in the Borough. Engagement was taking place with landlords seeking to evict tenants to understand circumstances, negotiate, and mediate wherever possible to prevent evictions. Where eviction could not be prevented, including cases involving friends and family, domestic abuse, or private sector evictions, efforts were being made to secure alternative suitable accommodation, usually within the private rented sector, through work with other landlords. It was further stated that, with Cabinet support, a significant increase in council?owned social rented properties had been delivered during the year. This had helped to alleviate pressures by enabling eligible local residents to move from high?cost temporary accommodation into secure, settled homes. In addition, it was confirmed that capped or fixed rates for temporary accommodation had been successfully negotiated over the previous 12 months, providing greater cost control in a market where nightly rates were typically increasing by more than 10%. It was acknowledged that the market remained extremely challenging, with a number of landlords exiting, potentially due to forthcoming reforms and increased compliance requirements. However, it was emphasised that all possible measures were being taken, with Cabinet support, to prevent homelessness and support families into settled accommodation as quickly as possible.

Councillors requested an explanation of point 21. Officers responded that this budget line comprised a range of measures, including some increases in income, more efficient cost controls, and improved management practices, particularly within the museum and bunkers service. It was stated that similar approaches were being applied across the Council to ensure best value for residents and prudent financial management.

A further question was raised in relation to point 14 concerning increased fleet insurance costs, and clarification was sought on whether the review to mitigate these costs was still ongoing or had concluded.  It was confirmed that the review was underway and expected to conclude in early April. It was added that measures to manage insurance costs had already been in place for several years and were being strengthened through increased training and more detailed analysis of the causes of insurance claims. It was acknowledged that the insurance market remained extremely challenging, and that smarter  ...  view the full minutes text for item 154.

RESOLVED: That the Residents’ Services Select Committee noted the Cabinet Forward Plan.

The Chair introduced the work programme and reported on a recent visit undertaken with Councillor Davies and refuse services staff at Harlington Depot. It was stated that the visit had been informative and had included observing recycling crews in operation. The professionalism of staff was noted, and it was reported that feedback previously raised by the Committee regarding post?collection practices, including the clearing and stacking of bags and the obstruction of pavements, had been heard and positively received. Discussions had taken place with crew leaders, who were described as highly engaged in their work. Particular reference was made to a crew leader, Jerome, whose commitment to high standards and detailed approach to team management was highlighted. Appreciation was expressed for refuse staff, who were described as often overlooked but consistently working in challenging conditions, and it was requested that the Committee’s thanks be formally recorded.

Councillor Davies added that the visit had been enlightening, particularly following discussions with Craig, a gang leader who had progressed from temporary employment to a full?time role with the Council. It was noted that this progression had positively impacted his personal circumstances, and this was cited as an example of the benefits arising from the Council’s employment practices.

The Cabinet Member thanked frontline staff for their work and expressed appreciation for the Committee’s engagement in visiting services on the ground. It was stated that frontline visits were an effective means of understanding service delivery and had been strongly supported during the Cabinet Member’s previous tenure as Chair of the Committee. It was further noted that staff valued the interest and feedback provided by Members.

The Chair thanked contributors and reminded Members that, as the authority approached the pre?election period, care would need to be taken in relation to frontline visits. It was confirmed that the Committee would continue to meet in April and that a substantial agenda, including consideration of houses in multiple occupation, was scheduled.

RESOLVED: That the Residents’ Services Select Committee considered the Work Programme report and agreed any amendments.