Local councillor Sam Hearn writes a blog about his week

Saturday 25th March: I am being asked by residents why there has been no action to reinstate the Barnes Passage cycle way and remove through cyclists from Russel Kerr Close. The Officers concerned were all very positive that something could be done “when the weather improved in the new year”.

Monday 27th March: The site clearance and demolition work is about to begin on the Lionel Road site. I contact Brentford Community Stadium project team and they reassure me that at this stage the only heavy traffic will be a low loader delivering and removing heavy equipment. I ask permission not to attend the Group Meeting of Conservative Councillors so that I can attend the debate on business rates at the Tabard promoted by Chiswick Calendar. As expected it was an informative and adult discussion. Cllr Denison presented the Council’s responsibilities in a clear and impartial way.

Tuesday 28th March: A chance to focus on the excellent educational achievements of Hounslow’s schools at this evening’s Borough Council meeting. It was good to hear that the impact of the new National Funding Formula on the Borough’s schools will not be as dire as predicted by some media pundits: Of the 52 local Primary Schools, only 16 will lose funding. · However of the 14 Secondary Schools, 11 will lose funding · The average funding gain is £36k. · The average funding being lost is £32k.

The debate before the formal adoption of the Council’s new Equal Opportunities and Human Rights policy and the 2018-2021 delivery plan, was greatly enlivened by a passionate speech from Councillor Dennison in defence of political correctness. Even if one wanted to it is hard to argue against fairness and equality of opportunity. Cllr Paul Lynch proposed a motion (that I was pleased to second) bringing the proposal to build 3,000 homes on Kempton Park Racecourse to members’ attention. We believe that Hounslow should be showing solidarity with neighbouring authorities.

Wednesday 29th March: Cllr Paul Lynch and I walk the Ward (well about a quarter of it) with representatives from Hounslow Highways and Hounslow Council. At the beginning and end of the walk we major on the potholes in Cavendish Road and Chesterfield Road. These so called “Wardabouts” are invaluable but they are inevitably a bit of a route march. An updated action plan will follow. At the Civic Centre in the afternoon with my Chair of the Pension Board hat on. The Officer who monitors the performance of our outsourced Pension Administrators goes through the KPIs and the issues that will be raised at the quarterly meeting. This is all about service delivery in an area that can be highly complex.

Thursday 30th March: To the South Bank to deputise for our Group Leader Cllr Peter Thompson at a meeting of Leaders of the London Boroughs’ Conservative Councillors. It is all a bit of an eye opener for a simple Chiswick lad like me. In the evening I sit in on the Pension Investment Committee as an observer on behalf of the LBH Pensions Board. I miss the most exciting bits of the agenda because I have to be in Chiswick to be interviewed by the candidate selection panel. They start with the easy questions - “What have you done for your constituents that you are most proud of."

Friday 31st March: I catch up with Cllr Todd on the matters that I missed at the Pensions Investment meeting.

Saturday 1st April: To Oxford to hear author Hilary Mantel in conversation with historian Prof Diarmaid MaCulloch about their joint obsession with Tudor politician Thomas Cromwell. Fascinating to hear how the creative process works for a writer of what is at the end of the day is historical fiction. I consult my old friend and political sparring partner, John, who is heavily engaged in helping to house a Syrian refugee family in Oxford. Hounslow Council has offered to take ten families but it is proving difficult to find landlords who will let their properties be used. Some thoughts to pass on to colleagues at St Paul’s Grove Park who are trying to house a family in Chiswick.

Sunday 2nd April: To Amersham for the AGM of my history Group in the Old Market Hall. The meeting is preceded by a wonderful guided tour of the Old Town provided through the good offices of the local museum. I express surprise that there are no parking restrictions in the main street (Broadway). Our guide tells me that the locals were “so beastly” to the traffic wardens that no one would do the job. Thank goodness I live in a civilised place like the London Borough of Hounslow.

Monday 3rd April: Dealing with a raft of local ward issues from pot holes and paving, to the misconceived cycle route through Russell Kerr Close.

Tuesday 4th April: A special Borough council meeting to confer the freedom of the Borough of Hounslow on the Borough’s seven British Legion Branches “in recognition of their eminent services to the people of the Borough over many years”. This is a largely ceremonial event with members voting by acclamation. The idea originally came from ex-Conservative councillor Lynn Davies. It was good to see her and her husband John again. The next council meeting is not until Tuesday 23rd May.

Wednesday 5th April: The trustees’ meeting of Layton Collection includes an oral report from Officer David Stockdale on the “brave” plans for the imminent relocation of Layton’s large collection of antiquarian books to Feltham Library. The Brentford Ward Councillors (and I) were not happy that the books would be moving even further from Brentford – their original home. The books are currently housed in Hounslow’s Treaty Centre Library from where a move was planned in 2018. However quick decisions had to be made when the Council received an offer it could not refuse for the space in the Treaty Centre. The trustees unanimously supported David’s plan. The traditional post meeting meal at La Rosetta in Brentford (that we pay for ourselves) was great fun and an opportunity to continue our discussions informally.

Thursday 6th April: Open an email confirming that the Chiswick Footbridge scheme has cleared most of its “hurdles” and should be open in Spring 2019. Concerns about the Zone 1 CPZ proposals appear to be surfacing. Perhaps I can leave this to my colleagues?

Friday 7th April: Getting up to speed with the case of a vulnerable council tenant who claims another resident is harassing them. Officers are being very helpful but I suspect that the options are limited. In the evening I dash to Feltham to help interview more potential candidates for the local authority elections in May 2018.

April 21, 2017