Cabinet Question Time

What steps has the council made to implement the Supreme Court ruling (from April 2025) and protect single-sex spaces across the borough?

Councillors may have seen the story of the Southwark resident banned for a year from all council-run gyms in the borough after complaining about a man using the women's changing room at her local gym. What clarity will Hounslow Council provide to prevent a similar - and illegal - situation happening here?

We all know that the Council is trying to encourage residents to walk rather than use their cars. However, most pavements in Hounslow are filthy, patched up unevenly and broken. They are not pleasant or comfortable for most able bodied people to leisurely walk on, let alone someone in a wheelchair or pulling a shopping trolley, or pushing a pushchair. Most pavements are particularly hazardous for the elderly and those who are visually impaired. Why are the pavements never cleaned, repaired and kept in a respectable condition? It is unhealthy and degrades our neighbourhoods and makes the borough of Hounslow look cheap and neglected.

When will there be effective street cleaning on a more regular basis in Chiswick especially as we seem to only have residential streets cleaned once a year and far too late when leaves have fallen and make our streets dangerous to walk on

My question is why do we pay council Tax and service charge but no improvements in our services ,homes being run down no estate maintenance, inspections for health & safety or for building regulations checks there seems to be lots of over sized extensions being built for large family members coming to stay with them in the uk. To many roads being closed off which also contributes to large traffic congestion on our streets. Far to many pot holes in our roads not being repaired And our rivers and alleyways are being used as dumping dumping grounds the list could go on and on, but my point is where is our money being spent, because it’s certainly not on things that should be being improved on

Questions from this point on are for Cabinet Question Time, 4th February 2026.

Why are leisure service ie gym swimming so expensive. Older and individuals with underlying medical condition should have a discount to use facilities outside core hour usage. No doing so has an impact on NHS and residents long term health and well-being.

60+ classes need to continue for the physical &mental wellbeing of Hounslow residents.
Stopping classes with no mention of replacement is terrible. Many people who come to the classes are on their own and this is their chance to get out into the community.
We understand that budgets are tight but the long term effect on residents will cost more!

If you had met anyone attending the 60+ Activities Program you would not be in any doubt about the exceptional impact it is having on the lives of the senior citizens of Hounslow Council and how perfectly targeted it is.
It offers a dedicated setting with committed instructors taking care of their specific needs in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere that fosters friendships, harmony and social cohesion.
Have you considered, how huge a loss to this now quite large community, the abrupt termination of this vital service would represent and how steep the cost of the fallout would be to the NHS, Social Services and ultimately, to the Coucil itself?

Why has the decision to cancel the 60+ programme been decided without talking to any of the participants?
How much does this programme cost the Council compared to other events?

Re. 1 Burlington Lane planning application

Why wasn’t the fact that there was a formal objection from Richmond Council or the fact that the proposal harms a protected view taken into account at all? The report says and relies upon the fact that the view is only glimpsed, and pays no attention to its status.

Given how important this is and therefore its significance when taking any decisions, shouldn’t the matter be re- reported and reconsidered?

Why are the council permitting a taller building than was permitted by the national planning appeal in Chiswick House Conservation Area that also overlooks and will impact on the Old Chiswick Conservation Officer. Why didn’t they listen to the hundreds of objections including from Richmond and Hammersmith, Historic England and apparently their own conservation officer who objected to the 10m increase in height. How can Hounslow Council be trusted as it does not appear to be able to value and protect Chiswick as a very special part of the borough.

Isn't it financially better for the Council and the NHS to ensure that elderly people are as healthy as possible? Surely prevention is better and cheaper than cure. To spend a little to keep the classes for the 60+ opened would in the long term be beneficial for everyone and it is short sighted of the Council not to see that.

How do you plan to maintain the community connection these classes created?

Why are pensioners being punished and ignored?

Hello. Can some members of the Cabinet & decision making committee who are due to decide on the funding for the 60+ Activities Programme actually attend in-person at a variety of these 60+ events where they will see there has been enormous positive effect *BEFORE* they make their final decision? Thank you.

Why is the 60+ Activity Programme ending before a clear replacement is in place, given its proven success for older residents? Has the Council assessed the cost to the NHS and social care if this preventive programme ends? If so, will you publish these figures?

The Council has confirmed that Better Care Fund support for the 60+ Activities Programme will end in September 2025, with the programme itself scheduled to close in November. We recognise that budgets are under pressure, but this programme is widely acknowledged as low-cost and high-impact, improving health, reducing loneliness, and preventing avoidable NHS and social care costs.
Given its proven success and the disruption that closure would cause, can the Cabinet guarantee that there will be no gap in provision, and confirm what alternative sources of funding are being explored or secured to maintain the programme beyond November?

Will councillor Dunne add Lime to the LBH mix of e-bikes or are the deals done with Voi and Forest prevent this? I’ve stopped using them because I need to use 2 bikes to get to Richmond. This is not a London issue - this is a LBH issue

When are you going to stop renting the park out week after week after week for irritating concerts?? The key for the park is surely paid out of council Tax ??

This is the 3rd day of non-stop bass from Gunnersbury Park hitting Chiswick. Neighbours report 79dB+ at homes, above the 75dB licence limit. Why is Hounslow Council not fining organisers? Do we need to take this to court? Shockingly, the event’s own Sound Management Plan (Vanguardia, 27 June 2025,P/2025/1376) for Waterworks 2025 asks for 90db: “A maximum overall ‘C’ weighted level of 90 dB LCeq,15 mins is also proposed as a cap on low frequency bass noise.” They claim the premises licence allows 90db. It does not. Licence H01288 clause 17.6 states: “Noise… shall not exceed 75dB(Laeq,15min) at 1m from the nearest noise sensitive premises.” Why is planning overwriting licensing, already above the 65dB Pop Code applied in Hyde Park(25/01965/LIPDPS)?They are selling tkts for next year already