Judging Hounslow Council's Planning Department Annual 'Bake Off'

Cllr Joanna Biddolph on post-election life and an encounter with 'mansplaining'

Cllr Biddolph on right, with Cllr John Todd and Gabriella Giles, during the election count

Having experienced life as a councillor for over 18 months I now know that there is a rhythm to the council year. That rhythm was interrupted by the general election with all of us expected to do as much campaigning as possible while continuing with council commitments – following up residents’ concerns and attending council meetings.

One meeting, of the full borough council, was compulsory (though Labour members had a rather more lax attitude to that, with many absentees … out canvassing, I assumed). In December we meet to consider the council’s medium term financial strategy. We all have different aptitudes and Cllr Gabriella Giles’ particular skill is speaking in the chamber. She talked of Labour’s inability to balance its books and failing to understand the basics of profit and loss. This infuriated Brentford councillor Guy Lambert who afterwards, in his usual patronising way, offered to provide Gabriella with some training in local government finance. He had taken exception to the words “profit and loss”. He’s half right. Local authorities cannot be profit-making. But they should operate within their means.

Here in Hounslow, Labour’s budget is full of “funding gaps” an affectation, surely, for “loss”. Ok, we should have used the
word “deficit”. But should we take up Cllr Lambert’s offer of some mansplaining?

Another election – and now we are ten

There is a rhythm to elections, too. The leafleting, canvassing and knocking up are relatively predictable as is the need to expect the unexpected. This time I was caught out by the generous attitude of the presiding officer of the polling station where I was on the dawn session as a teller (she decided the cold and dark start to the day amounted to inclement weather, entitling me to stand in the indoor porch rather than outside) and caught up in the first day of CS9 traffic chaos at Kew Bridge (45 minutes to get from Verdict in Brentford to the Express Tavern, with one traffic light so badly phased it only allowed one vehicle through at a time).

Although our parliamentary candidate, Seena Shah, didn’t win, we were successful in one of the two bye-lections that took place on the same day. Kuldeep Tak was elected in Feltham North ward in the Feltham and Heston constituency. So now ours is a group of 10 Conservative councillors.

Judging a bake-off

Because of the general election, I haven’t been in and out of Hounslow House as often as is typical. But I chose a good day to go in for a couple of meetings and to pick up post and papers. As I was catching up with casework, there was a knock on our door, an apology for interrupting and a question. Would I be willing to judge the planning department’s bake-off? It’s an annual tradition at Christmas and taken very seriously – one participant came in with his dish despite officially being on holiday. A group of us – several officers and I – listened as each team described the food story at their table, summarising life in an area in Hounslow. We tasted and munched through dishes from around the world, representing the borough’s diverse population.

We huddled together outside to decide the best sweet, best savoury, best presentation, the most authentic and the best overall. We asked that there should be an award for the best story, too. It was over far too quickly – we were asked not to take too long so the teams could eat each others’ efforts – with no disagreement amongst the judges. Many more deserved praise – there was something prize-worthy at every table. It was fascinating to see officers in a relaxed setting and in teams rather than individuals in formal committee mode.

What do Hounslow residents talk about over Christmas lunch?

There was more prize-worthy eating at the second annual Christmas lunch for residents of the Gunnersbury Park Garden Estate (GPGE), a forgotten part of Turnham Green ward (it’s a conservation area of around 480 houses and flats opposite Gunnersbury Park and includes the Gunnersbury Triangle Tennis Club). This year 26 people enjoyed the full works cooked by local chef Hildred Watts who has also reinvigorated the fortnightly coffee morning for GPGE residents.

Of course residents talked about the outcome of the general election, the superb turkey and the dreaded return of the Lovebox festival but one subject stands out for being raised with irritation, anger, despair and disbelief – and it wasn’t Brexit. Leaves. The non-collection of. We’ve been asking for far too long for our pavements and roads to be cleared of slippery mush but Hounslow is sticking to its pre-determined schedule with no change to respond to this year’s exceptionally heavy leaf fall.

The Fisher’s Lane playground is currently particularly dangerous. I’ve asked for it to be cleared urgently – it’s likely to be in high demand over Christmas and New Year. What are the chances?

Please walk with care and have a safe and happy Christmas.

Councillor Joanna Biddolph

DATES FOR DIARIES
• Borough Council: Tuesday, 28 January 2020 at 7.30 pm at Hounslow House
• Chiswick Area Forum: Tuesday, 4 February 2020 at 7.00 pm at Chiswick Town Hall
SURGERIES
• Chiswick: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick Library in the upstairs room.
• Gunnersbury: First Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at The Gunnersbury Triangle Club, The Ridgeway, W3 8LN. It is usually a group discussion but privacy can be arranged.

Turnham Green Ward
Email: joanna.biddolph@hounslow.gov.uk
Phone: 07976 703446
Twitter: @joannabiddolph

December 22, 2019