Cabinet Question Time

I'd like to ask why your Planning department did not listen to objections from the many many local residents, the Old Chiswick Protection Society, St Nicholas Church, Richmond Council and more importantly Historic England - and suggested that the high rise building known as 1 Burlington Lane shoudl be approved?

Gunnersbury Park, which is designated as Metropolitan Open Land, is leased by Gunnersbury Estate (2026) CIC. A recent Companies House filing shows that the CIC has registered a financial charge over the land. Was the Council made aware of or did it approve this charge, and what steps has it taken to ensure the public asset is not at risk?

In addition, the CIC receives around £500,000 in public funding annually, and is required to follow a maintenance schedule under its lease. Yet there appears to be no public record of audits, inspections, or spending breakdowns. What systems are in place to monitor the CIC’s compliance and ensure transparency around the use of public funds?

Why has Hounslow Council allowed the Gunnersbury CIC to run up a £2.7m “operational budget” in Gunnersbury Park, while historic buildings crumble, £500k of taxpayers’ money is siphoned off each year only for £300k to be handed back to Ealing council for grass cutting and bins, over 98 days of hire in 2025 bring robberies and drugs to homes surrounding the park, and residents are left with planning permitting 90db noise at festivals and licencing 75db far above the 65db Pop code and Hyde Park standards? Where are the independent financial audits of how our taxes are used by this unelected third party? Where is the oversight and scrutiny? In short, why does Hounslow Council consistently prioritise commercial promoters profits over protecting residents and safeguarding public land?

Massively rely on Lime bikes, as i can’t afford a car and use them to get to train stations. To pull them so quickly and replace them with sub-par alternatives , is unacceptable. ( 5 attempts of both new bike supplier, 0 times were the bikes rideable or the app worked as advertised ). Just enforce proper parking. I cannot visit my family in the borough of Ealing due to dead zone. This decision has disconnected an already poorly connected borough and shows a massive lack of understanding from the council. I Imagine those complaining about the bikes never used them and have many alternatives when it comes to transport.
I do agree that proper parking should be enforced

Thanks for all your questions for the panel for 9th July 2025, listed below. All questions listed from this point on are for Cabinet Question Time 17th September 2025.

Having just learned of the Lime bike cancellation, I wonder if there is a petition to have this overturned? We rely heavily on the bikes for transportation and were incredibly disappointed to learn the decision made by council.

I am not in favour of my road to be included in a cpz zone.

My address is 37 hornbeam crescent Brentford

What is the Council’s policy in relation to The Teddington Direct River Abstraction proposal in the knowledge that Thames Water estimates there will be 100 ( 50 out with rubble & 50 back in ) HGV lorry trips from Mogden to the A316 a day for 3 years while the tunnel to Teddington is constructed ? I cannot be at the meeting today as we have a pre-arranged LP branch meeting. It is unfortunate that the Question Time was arranged despite the clash.
Heather Flint

With housing prices and private rents in London rising far beyond local incomes, many young professionals and first-time buyers, especially from diverse or lower-income backgrounds, are effectively locked out of the market. What specific steps is Hounslow Council taking to ensure the delivery of genuinely affordable, high-quality housing that supports long-term access and helps young residents get onto the property ladder?

And will the Council consider more innovative models, such as community land trusts, reformed shared ownership schemes, or co-living options to make housing more accessible for young working people in the borough?

Currently, when an illegal HMO is reported to the Council, the Enforcement team response is not to close down the HMO or fine the landlord. Instead the default answer from the Enforcement Team appears to be that they will issue a licence, even to non-compliant properties. Additionally, HMO properties without Planning Permission are allowed to use their previous and current illegal HMO useage to bolster their justification for continued use as an HMO. Owner-occupiers would like the Council to explain why HMO landlords receive such extraordinarily preferential treatment in the borough, to the detriment of other residents?

Given the growing number of serious concerns raised by residents about the rapid escalation in the number and scale of private events at Gunnersbury Park (including breaches of the covenant, exceeding the 28-day planning limit, loss of public access, inadequate safety enforcement, and lack of financial transparency), will the Council fulfil its democratic duty, as both landlord and licensor, by committing to a full review of the premises licence?

Over the last 10 years:
- how much council tax revenue is collected every year?
- how much is the council tax arrears/year?
- ⁠how much goes towards staff Pension every year?
- ⁠how much Council tax relief/discounts is given each year
- ⁠what is the council tax increase for each band every year

Like so many Council struggling with debts and face risk of bankruptcy, what is the risk of Hounslow Council going bankrupt?

The London National Park City (https://nationalparkcity.london/) is running a programme together with LB Hounslow to promote the connection between people and Nature through the recruitment and the microfunding of Hounslow Rangers. This started in January 2025. We have now 18 successful LNPC Hounslow Rangers who are working on projects such as poetry in park, nature wheelchair accessibility, month nights, pocket parks, etc. The Hounslow Rangers are local volunteers and we have been trying to promote their work with the Comms Department. We hoped to feature in the Hounslow Matters but we have not been successful. Should green and environmental initiatives funded by Hounslow Council have a stronger focus on your social media.

When and what is the Council planning to invest in the safety of, and improving the experience of, pedestrians? Pedestrians are the most vulnerable and numerous road users and therefore require the most protection. Whilst the investment in cycling infrastructure is most welcome, in every case the consequences have been a degraded and in some cases less safe, pedestrian experience. The mixing of walking and cycling initiatives by the London Authority and the Council is not appropriate; the categories have different needs. Cyclists will always be bigger and faster than pedestrians and therefore pedestrians need proper, tailored protection and genuine improvements.

Please explain why Hounslow has a perception as a filthy and dirty town especially in evenings despite millions of tax payer funds and promises of action. Social media is awash with negative feedbacks.

Why is Feltham HIgh Street in the Hanworth Ward? Should it not come under Feltham North. Just asking.

Thanks for all your questions for the panel for 8 April 2025, listed below. All questions listed from this point on are for Cabinet Question Time 9th July 2025.

Parking for Distillery Walk residents is becoming a nightmare. I pay for the permit but never find a space to park. This is because the other non paying residents and outsiders park their cars outside restricted hours. Why do we have to pay an annual fee for the residential parking during restriction hours, which are 2 - one in the morning and one in the evening? We still don’t have the privilege to take advantage anyway?

Please answer my question.

Many thanks

Many thanks for your questions for CQT on 8th April, the chair is now selecting some as featured questions (all questions will have a response published on this page). We have now closed submissions in advance but you can still book a ticket to be at the event in person and raise your hand on the night.

In the Labour 2022 manifesto, the council committed to a 50% recycling rate by 2026 [1]. According to the latest performance monitoring report, this has recently dropped to 37.9% [3]. There does not appear to be an adequate plan to get this up to 50% in the next year. Shouldn’t this item be reported as Red in the performance report. (Submitted via email)