The Value Of Our Council Caretakers

Cllr Joanna Biddolph blogs on anti-social behaviour, and supporting Council staff in tough times

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

There is little routine about the role of a councillor. Yes, we sit on committees that meet on certain days of the week but what happens – what we discuss, who supports which arguments, how decisions go … it's unpredictable. So, too, are the requests for help we receive from residents … all unpredictable. And none of us predicted our week would include a fire in a flat in Turnham Green ward in which, sadly, one of our residents died. That is not to say that we were caught out. The council does, of course, have a crisis management plan ready to be activated and activated it was. As soon as we found out about the incident, the three of us in Turnham Green ward – Ranjit Gill, Ron Mushiso and I – dashed round as did John Todd of Chiswick Homefields ward as he was nearby. The police let us through the cordon to support staff and residents.

There is nothing to be said about the fire – it's still being investigated – but there is a lot to be said about the staff who had to work around it in all its grimness. At the heart of every estate is a community and at the heart of that community is the caretaker. Caretakers know everyone and everyone knows them. As they go about their daily work, residents stop them, have a chat, ask questions. Their role is fundamental to the well-running of our estates and I have nothing but praise and admiration for the caretaker at the heart of this estate who calmly continued with her work while reassuring residents and answering their questions. Despite the very difficult circumstances, she fulfilled her caretaking role calmly and sensitively. As caretaker, she certainly took care – of the estate, and others, despite the exceptional and upsetting circumstances. Thank you.

Anti-social behaviour – how has it affected you?

The council's overview and scrutiny committee (OSC) is this year looking at anti-social behaviour (ASB). Most councillors have taken up cases of ASB and have much to say but the committee wants to know more about how it affects residents.

Councillors on the committee were offered the chance to attend a training course on anti-social behaviour during which – in a session led by Victims' Commissioner Dame Vera Baird – I learned of an action I wish I'd known about from the start. It wasn’t raised in our training as new councillors. It hasn't been raised when I've taken up residents' complaints. It isn't mentioned on the council's relevant web pages. It's called the community trigger and it can be used if complaints referred to the council aren't acted on satisfactorily. I had such a case and described it to Dame Vera.

For at least 15 years a house in Turnham Green ward has been the site of debauched and disgusting behaviour, mostly but not only at weekends. It wasn't unusual for 100 or more people to party continuously, urinating and defecating outdoors including into a neighbouring garden, chucking vast numbers of bottles and NOX canisters over garden fences and into the road, and making so much noise that one neighbour had for years slept only during the day while another had resolved to move. Residents had complained repeatedly but nothing improved. I took it up and the council's response was to visit the house to check on living conditions. Fair enough. But what about the neighbours?

This tale generated a loud intake of breath from the audience and a frustrated nod from Dame Vera. She explained that the device was often not publicised by councils. I reached for my phone and checked the Hounslow website. Nothing. Later I Googled Hounslow council and community trigger and a draft committee paper came up; where was the final, approved briefing? I searched again and found a link to an e-form but I haven't found it again. The community trigger is not publicised here. I have, of course, made that point to the OSC committee and to the teams who are involved in ASB investigations and have secured a commitment that the website will be revised and pages on noise complaints and ASB will either be amalgamated or cross-referenced with the community trigger explained on all relevant pages.

So, some information for you: if you complain three times (on separate occasions) about ASB and the council's response hasn't worked, call for the community trigger to be actioned. A multi-disciplinary team will then be convened to investigate and act. Do this through one of your ward councillors if you prefer.

And some information for me: please answer these four questions and send me your comments by 15th January:

1. Have you ever felt threatened by anti-social behaviour in Hounslow?

2. What worries you most about anti-social behaviour in Hounslow?

3. Have you ever reported anti-social behaviour in Hounslow? What was your experience of it?

4. What do you think would help prevent anti-social behaviour in Hounslow?

YOu can also answer these questions online.

Thank you.

A new book in the library – The Bletchley Girls

Last year, at a special meeting of the council in November, we awarded the Freedom of the Borough to Chiswick resident and former Bletchley Girl Pat Davies. It was a very rare occasion with everyone agreeing with everyone else.

Well, not quite. During my tribute to Pat, I asked if the book in which she features, The Bletchley Girls: War, Secrecy, Love and Loss, could be bought and put in all the borough's libraries and in all our schools. I looked at Steve Curran, leader of the council, hoping for a sign of approval. Not a flinch or a flicker, just a straight-ahead stare. During her tribute, cabinet member for adults, social care and health Cllr Candice Atterton, said she liked the idea and would support my request. I heard nothing more so, after recovering from the slog of the general election and the Christmas/New Year break, I followed up. Very good news: it has been placed in all our libraries and is already out on loan at many of them.

What of schools? Schools are in charge of deciding which books they stock and cabinet member for education, youth and children's services Tom Bruce, has agreed to raise it with school heads at the next schools forum. Thank you.

DATES FOR DIARIES

· Borough Council: Tuesday, 28th January 2020 at 7.30 pm at Hounslow House

· Chiswick Area Forum: Tuesday, 4th 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.

Councillor Joanna Biddolph Turnham Green Ward Email: joanna.biddolph@hounslow.gov.uk

Phone: 07976 703446

Twitter: @joannabiddolph

January 10, 2020