Covid-19 and Council Tax Damaging Business and Residents
Chiswick Homefields ward councillor Gerald McGregor reports back on his week
Councillor Gerald McGregor - leader of the opposition on Hounslow Council and longstanding Ward Councillor for Homefields
By now every council taxpayer in Chiswick in either Ealing or Hounslow should have some idea of what they are in for. Cabinet meetings have been held this week in both Boroughs, the Mayor has added his nasty surprise and the Council tax will become law in Ealing and Hounslow on 1st March 2022
We are all suffering from idiotic council policies, costing us money, disrupting lives and making a simple shopping trip more like running the gauntlet of cyclists (many of whom are happy running red traffic signals), and with the obvious economic and financial consequences of cars, delivery vehicles and emergency teams stuck in ever increasing traffic congestion, and at the same time contributing to the increased future need and cost of healthcare because of high pollution.
The Continuing Need for Feedback and Listening to our Residents
The Conservative group in opposition in Hounslow have tried very hard to help in setting agendas at the Council, supporting our the Covid-19 public health team, liaising constantly with the senior management team at the council and giving support and enthusiasm to our colleagues on the front line and fellow supporters in different neighbourhoods in Hounslow.
The continuing issue for the public is that when watching Ealing and Hounslow councils in action they get no sense of any consistency in feedback or constructive engagement. We have learnt a huge amount about this in the 2021 election campaigns and the constant iteration on the doorstep that no one cares and no one in authority listens to them or to the population in general.
The source of many problems
Housing, homes and streets are a continuing feature of the work and policies we wish to introduce. Recently we have commenced surveys on street space and we are responding to the growing number of cases involving poor maintenance of council owned homes and consequent health issues.
Traffic and transport is a nightmare of non-consultation and an example complete lack of population engagement. We now hear that many of the schemes are to be made permanent with Labour Councillors in Ealing and in Hounslow conspicuous for their lack of scrutiny for some very bad ideas.
Housing is a problem best solved by a multi-agency approach involving new build, proper maintenance of built property and moving tenants/or priority need cases into appropriate property, in and outside the borough, when their circumstances changed. The pandemic has made this sort of joined up approach difficult but not impossible.
This sort of pro-longed effort is often extinguished too early by a sense of futility leading to a lack of enthusiasm or engagement when a housing, or homelessness or street living case is intractable because of resources or co-operation from those who need help. Hounslow Housing has more than 500 properties awaiting renovation and habitability checks! Housing associations are facing similar problems and the pressure on the private rented sector grows and grows.
The solutions required
Officers at Hounslow proved that during the height of the pandemic the council could move to support residents and recovering patients in a well organised social services drive to beat the virus. This required dedicated sustained effort. The officers deserve to be cheered for their efforts.
Planning is a good example of engagement when best practice is followed but with the difficulty of remote access to Zoom or Teams getting in the way of good communication it leaves many residents waiting for information about applications and appeals.
Activities over the last week
Some substance of normality has returned with the welcome news that the Government has decided to use taxpayer funds to lift some of the energy cost burden from those who can least afford it. Energy costs are high at present partly because economies coming out of covid restrictions get a boost in demand and partly because supply chains have been severely damaged during the lock downs. Energy security for the UK is also a key policy for any government and the carbon zero programme creates further pressure on suppliers leading to lower production of electricity and industrial gas for the home market.
A delegation of Nigerian politicians from Lagos came into London and I had the pleasure of hosting them in Hammersmith on a study tour specifically designed around political, economic and social policy concerns. Nick Rogers, LGA Assemblyman for London South West and Andrew Boff, Assemblyman for Greater London were present answering questions and sharing and exchanging ideas about how to govern, how to economically boost and how to contribute to social development of a large metropolis. This took place at the LGA.
Other speakers included Helen Grant MP whose role as trade envoy for the UK to Nigeria enlivened a well thought through presentation of trade benefits flowing to both partners. Other participants included former MP’s Sir Gerald Howarth and Stephen Twigg and former senior civil servants in the Houses of Parliament explaining legislative practice
Politically locally the Conservative Group is now in full campaign mode and all councillors have been leafletting, meeting residents and preparing the Conservative Manifesto. The budget meeting of the council on March 1st will be a critical event and the fallout of poor decisions and the increases in Council Tax may cause problems. At present we accept the need for a one per cent uplift to maintain support for adult social care as we did in previous years, but the administration is responsible for policies that have left unsaved promised cost reductions; these going back now for several years and no relief in sight. What are they doing with our money?
The Election Campaign
The Conservatives have selected candidate across the Borough but the word in the street is that the Labour Leadership is having trouble constituting candidates and is de-selecting a large number for lack of loyalty; so it looks like the start of a lively campaign which the Hounslow Local Conservative Party Associations will relish.
Gerald McGregor F.C.A., Councillor for Homefields and Conservative Group Leader Leader of the Opposition
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Most council meetings are now taking place in person at Hounslow House though a few, such as licensing panel meetings, continue to be held virtually. Even if they are held in person, you can watch them live (or later) on the council's YouTube channel . Please check for each meeting by looking at the agenda reports pack for each committee.
The key council meetings coming up are:
- 1st March – 7.00 pm 2022/3 Budget Setting Meeting
- 3rd March – 7.00 pm Planning Meeting
- 8th March – 7.00 pm Licensing Panel Meeting
- 15th March – 7.00pm Overview and Scrutiny Committee
- 22nd March – 7.00pm Cabinet
- 5th April – 7.00 pm Licensing Panel Meeting
- 7th April – 7.00 pm Planning Meeting
- 19th April– 7.00pm Cabinet
SURGERIES ARE BACK!
We are now able to hold face-to-face surgeries again and, as before, will be available in Chiswick and in Gunnersbury. Chiswick: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick Library (the nine Conservative councillors take this surgery in turn). Gunnersbury: First Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at The Gunnersbury Triangle Club, Triangle Way, off The Ridgeway, W3 8LU (at least one of the Turnham Green ward councillors will take this surgery).
Chiswick Homefields ward
Cllr Patrick Barr
patrick.barr@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 703263
Cllr Gerald McGregor
gerald.mcgregor@hounslow.gov.uk
07866 784821
Cllr John Todd
john.todd@hounslow.gov.uk
07866 784651
Chiswick Riverside ward
Cllr Michael Denniss
michael.denniss@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 703274
Cllr Gabriella Giles
gabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uk
07966 270823
Cllr Sam Hearn
sam.hearn@hounslow.gov.uk
07833 376222
Turnham Green ward
Cllr Joanna Biddolph
joanna.biddolph@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 703446
Cllr Ranjit Gill
ranjit.gill@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 702956
Cllr Ron Mushiso
ron.mushiso@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 702887
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February 13, 2022