From Potholes To Piazza, A Local Councillor's Busy Life

This week Councillor Michael Denniss writes about his work in the community

It’s been a year since I was first elected councillor for Chiswick Riverside ward. Since the election I’ve been familiarising myself with new responsibilities and challenges and meeting residents and community groups. Hounslow council’s induction course introduced new councillors to its key structures and procedures and informed my work as a councillor.

I have spoken several times at meetings of the borough council. For instance I endorsed and voiced my support for the council’s acceptance of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s interpretation of anti-semitism (all nine of us supported it, of course). After several residents raised concerns about the complicated language in the council’s annual budget I asked the council’s cabinet to consider simplifying the language and to produce an accompanying document that summarised the key points. I do feel that, at all levels of government, transparency such as this provides legitimacy in a democracy.

I’ve have taken on several roles outside the council, on groups on which there is formal council representation. One of these is the board at Mortlake Crematorium which oversees how the crematorium is governed, how it manages its financial arrangements and how it forecasts future risks. It’s also a chance to ensure that the crematorium serves residents effectively. The Grade II-listed building is beside the Thames and is a stunning Art Deco design. The atmosphere there is entirely tranquil and provides enormous comfort after a long day in the office!

Measuring potholes

This year I’ve taken on new roles and am now a member of the housing scrutiny panel. This role will allow me to study and contribute towards the council’s plans for housing, ensuring that they are being run soundly and that they deliver value for money.

Another of my new tasks in the Conservative group is to keep abreast of and promote online petitions that affect residents in Chiswick. This is so that residents don’t miss out on adding their voice on matters that they care about. One of these is the current petition to oppose Transport For London’s proposed Cycle Superhighway 9 (CS9) which the council will vote on perhaps as soon as September or October. Last weekend I promoted the petition on Chiswick High Road at a stall with Shaun Bailey and Nicholas Rogers, the Conservative candidates for Mayor of London and the Greater London Assembly respectively. The petition is live until 3rd September and you can sign it here: http://petitions.hounslow.gov.uk/Stop-cs9/. The system only allows for one name for each email address so if you share an email address and would like a paper copies to complete, please let me know.

I’ve also attended meetings of local community groups such as the Grove Park Group Residents Association and the Strand on the Green Association. This is a chance for me to find out what these groups are planning and what their common concerns are. It’s really encouraging for me to see residents getting together and taking action on issues that matter, such as the Grove Park Piazza, local crime and rubbish collections. It’s great to have this focused understanding of the key topics and also to catch up with residents. The Conservative group recently hosted two large meetings with local and borough police in Chiswick which drew large numbers of residents. The other councillors and I met attendees and collected formal feedback on concerns about crime and how safe they feel in Chiswick.

Another key activity is regularly to walk around Chiswick Riverside ward, either on my own or with your other Riverside councillors, Gabriella Giles and Sam Hearn. These have the dual effects of learning about or better understanding existing problems and developments in the ward, and raising our profile amongst residents. We recognise the issues that residents have raised with us, for instance the number of cars driven to and left near Chiswick Station on a work day and the number of potholes, especially on Grove Park Gardens. We take different routes so that we cover the whole ward. I particularly enjoy the walk along the river between Kew Bridge and Strand. Chiswick Riverside is a lovely place to live in and I am lucky to have grown up in such an area.

If you have any comments about any of the issues that I have raised then please do get in touch.

Dates for diaries

• Hounslow Borough Council: Tuesday, 18 June at Hounslow House (papers are online now).
• Chiswick Area Forum: Tuesday, 25 June (papers will be published a week before)
• Chiswick surgeries: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick library, upstairs in a private room.
• Gunnersbury surgeries: First Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at The Triangle Club, The Ridgeway, W3 8LN, usually a group discussion but privacy can be arranged.

Councillor Michael Denniss

Email: michael.denniss@hounslow.gov.uk
Phone: 07976 703274

June 16, 2019