Cabinet Question Time

What is the progress with The Council's lifelong learning initiative? And would The Council be willing to explore how organisations such as Chiswick Pier Trust (of which I am a Trustee) could support and develop this project.

Why is the Waterman's site being sold off when it's a prime London riverside site owned by Hounslow residents and could generate substantial income for generations to come?

Business cases for building flats to pay for an arts centre within the site would bring in much needed revenue over the longer-term. Why is this option not being considered given that the Police site would charge us/Hounslow Council rent, if not initially, then certainly in the longer term.

Please provide a proportional breakdown of what the $1 million fee is intended for. Does it include any legal advice to alter the need to provide arts space before selling and demolishing the current Waterman's site?

Why does the Council not assign any importance to SEMH needs when it comes to children with SEN? I can see a Q from 1 year ago where a child was not deemed autistic enough to get her preferred placement and now the child is suicidal. It is really concerning that the mental health of young autistic girls who are cognitively able is not assigned any importance by the council and children are left to reach crisis point. The safety valve agreement relating to EOTAS is particularly concerning. Does the Council realise that unless this is prioritised, it will later become a social care issue as the children with unmet needs will become adults who won’t be able to function later? We are facing a similar situation. 3rd appeal (2won) going into 3rd year and yet no provision implemented yet.

1. Why does the Council not enforce their policies against rogue landlords in Hounslow? Why does the Council not investigate people who are not paying council tax and rogue landlords who do not have HMO licenses and/or are not allowed to let out ‘beds in sheds’?
2. What is the Council doing to ensure that as part of the EV strategy, disabled people are not at a disadvantage in relation to having accessible charging posts?
3. Why do certain staff members openly purport that the council can only consider applications (eg dropped kerb applications) ‘as per the policy’? Is there a reason why the Council refuses to use discretion in the application of their policies, especially when it relates to significant disadvantages disabled people are subjected to?

Why is Chiswick’s treated differently to Hanworth Village, Hounslow. I’ve lived and currently live in both. It’s definitely treated more favourably. Is it because people complain more in Chiswick. It is really rather sad.

Can you please make provision for more parking in central Hounslow?
I understand the council wants us to use more public transport but for some people that isn't an option and there are fewer and fewer parking options available for people in those cases ..
Also related - When will the Treaty Centre and its car park close? Because from that point on, working in Hounslow will become very difficult and almost impossible..

Questions from this point on are for Cabinet Question Time, 30th January 2025

Why is it that driving behind a rubbish truck lorry make us feel we are following a death trail. I mean there is a high risk of upper respiratory tract infection or even a chest infection when all its dust particles is blown directly behind onto all vehicles behind and pedestrians particularly young children and frail/old age citizens? What better provisions can be made to safeguard our citizens?

Advance questions for Cabinet Question Time 4th September are now closed. Thanks to all who submitted a question.

what are you going to do to tackle residents from dumping mass household goods

and will you consider doing a review in the enforcement team as they dont fine many. so no deterrent

Cycling has been my primary mode of transport for the last four years and I found it a very practical way of improving mental and physical health. Thankfully, new cycling tracks have been created within Hounslow and adjacent boroughs. However, maintenance of these tracks is an issue. There are rough patches and potholes which cyclists try to avoid by swerving their bikes and that could be extremely dangerous when a vehicle is closely following behind. Who is responsible for maintaining these cycling tracks and how often do they do this job?

Leasehold service do not seem to hold full information Residents to contact the Freeholder regarding the Freehold responsibilities with regard to subletting. Subletting is something the Freeholder should be made aware of otherwise the system can be abused.

The Experimental Ebike parking bay was to be for a period of 6 months after ‘installation’, which started on or around 06/12/23 (as the previous location at the top of Queens Way having been removed, after just 3 weeks, due to safety issues as raised by many LOCAL residents!) after which there was to be ‘residents consultation’ on whether this relocated parking bay, in Elizabeth Way, was stay or be removed. This ‘residents consultation’ is now 3 months overdue and we are plagued with abandoned bikes - 8/10 on a regular basis within a 300 metre semi circle of this Experimental Ebike parking bay. With dozens more abandoned within a 1/3 of a mile radius of this particular Experimental Lime Ebike parking bay, including in/on Hanworth Airpark!! A bike has been abandoned for over 2 months

It feels like we are facing a mental health and well-being crisis. In the post-pandemic world, a lot of people are suffering silently and very little is done at the Council level to promote mental health and well-being. I am interested to know what are the Council's plans to improve this situation.

Are Lime bikes here to stay in Feltham. If yes than what is council and the company doing to ensure that they are legitimately used and returned to proper parking spots. That teenagers and young children cannot dodge the mechanism and are able ride them dangerously. That if left in inappropriate places they will be immediately moved by the company.

There appears to be plenty of vacancies in sheltered housing eg Owen house, Feltham - if someone occupying a council property has too much in savings and occupying a larger property , can their savings be ignored for them to be moved into sheltered housing to create vacancies in a council house or to get charged a premium to move into council sheltered accommodation.

The community asset review - when is this going to be complete for Feltham ?

The cabinet papers are often in complex language not clear to the average members of the public- can we get these in plain English going forward

There is lots of publicity around consultations - but often the details to the end product are not shared - can we have full transparency around the local plan and the reasons why things did/ didn’t change after the consultation.

We like the communications from Hounslow Matters - but often events are missed out of it - can we ensure all events are included eg 8th August national play day in Isleworth.