Category: News

Hillingdon Council has appointed commercial theatre consultants to support its procurement of a long-term operator for the Beck Theatre in Hayes.
The council had been seeking to negotiate a new lease with Trafalgar Theatres for them to continue its management of the facility at a peppercorn rent with the council being responsible for essential repairs and maintenance. Trafalgar has insisted that, in addition, the council pay an ongoing subsidy. The council has determined that this is no longer appropriate with public finances under such pressure, noting Trafalgar Theatres is a profit-making company that pays dividends to its owners.
In the absence of an agreement, Trafalgar’s contract with the council will cease on 13 January and the Beck Theatre will close while the consultants seek new management.

Cllr Ian Edwards, Leader of Hillingdon Council, said: “We recognise the valuable contributions our theatres make to our communities and are committed to retaining a strong community arts and culture offer.
“Council officers and elected councillors continue to work tirelessly to secure the venue’s long-term stability as a commercial theatre without financial subsidy from the taxpayer.
“The consultants will begin their work immediately.”
The council will provide further updates in due course.

The outstanding commitment and unwavering support of Hillingdon Council’s foster carers have been recognised at a special awards ceremony.

Hillingdon Council’s Foster Carer Appreciation Event celebrated carers with a combined total of 120 years’ fostering experience with the council recognised for their long service at the Battle of Britain Bunker Exhibition and Visitor Centre, Uxbridge on Friday 11 October.

Amanda and Peter Botterill, and Lynne and Michael Moore were each recognised for 25 years’ service.

Satinder and Jagmohan Gill were honoured for 15 years, while Bernadette and Christopher Hills-Scott, Rachel and Andy Langford, and Garry and Elise Simkins received awards for 10 years’ service. Kerriann and Carl Follett, Mary and Kerry Hennessy, Vanda Hewett, Jeanette Isaacs and Julie Reynolds were all recognised for five years of fostering with the council.

They received their awards from Cllr Heena Makwana, Chairman of the council’s Children, Families and Education Select Committee and Emma Kavanagh, the council’s Assistant Director for Corporate Parenting and Fostering.

Satinder and Jagmohan, from Uxbridge, have fostered 37 children. Satinder said: “You have to put in a lot of time, but it’s very rewarding just to see them grow and change. The house is full of laughter and giggles, it’s lovely and brings your house to life. I just love looking after children and it’s very rewarding to see them thriving.

“We’re just really proud to be part of the borough and I’ve been really well supported by the council for the last 15 years.”

Garry, from Eastcote, was recognised alongside his late wife Elise. Together they had fostered 16 children. He said: “We had time to do it, a good family home and a loving family and we thought we had something to offer children in need.

“If you have got time to give, the rewards come back to you, and you see how much they improve in your care. Every child has left us, I believe, better than when they arrived.”

A further eight awards – Embracing Change, Compassion in Fostering, Fostering Mentor of the Year, Fostering Ambassador Award, Exceptional Care Award, Resilience in Fostering Award, Newcomer of the Year Award and the Sibling Support Award – were also presented.

These awards recognised foster carers who have gone above and beyond in supporting their peers and children in remarkable ways.

Roy and Filomena Taylor, from Hillingdon, won the Exceptional Care Award. They are currently caring for four children and have fostered more than 20 children in the past 13 years.

Filomena said: “We enjoy seeing the children progress, providing them with a home and just giving them the love and nurturing they need.”

Roy said: “When you’re doing the school run and the child starts holding your hand it’s so monumental that you’re making that link and that bond with them.”

Cllr Susan O’Brien, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, said: “The commitment and dedication of the council’s foster carers has made a profound and positive impact on the lives of so many children and young people, and this was the council’s way of saying ‘thank you’ for their continued dedication.

“The event was a wonderful opportunity to recognise the life-changing support our foster carers provide and celebrate their achievements. Congratulations to all our award winners.”

Since the council launched its campaign to recruit more foster carers in May with an unrivalled payment and benefits package, it has received more than 100 enquiries.

The council offers the most competitive package in London, where foster carers can now earn up to £1,500 per week and receive a 25 per cent reduction in council tax when looking after a child in care.

This also includes £1,000 off utility bills, a winter fuel allowance and a family Merlin and leisure pass. This equates to an annual salary of up to £72,000.

Find out more about the council’s fostering service by visiting www.hillingdon.gov.uk/fostering

Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet has agreed a new digital strategy and £9 million investment to improve the way residents access services.  The plan builds on previous successes and sets out an innovative vision for the next three years.

It includes:

• improving residents’ experiences when accessing services and information so they can carry out basic transactions quickly and only need to make contact once
• creating a modern, digitally skilled council workforce equipped with the systems and technology to do their work and put residents first
• understanding residents’ needs using technology to combine data and get insights to shape service improvements
• improving services while maintaining or reducing costs.
• The strategy sets out four main principles to deliver the vision, which include prioritising residents’ needs, carrying out an agile approach to delivery, delivering new business models driven by data, and adopting a ‘One Council’ approach by creating project teams and shared goals.

And five workstreams will be created, which will focus on building services online by default; sourcing better data to make better decisions; modernising council infrastructure and systems; building digital capacity and inclusion; and delivering a digital place.

Hillingdon Council has already made great strides in its digital journey by:

• becoming the first in the country to introduce an automated voice and web chat function on its phone lines and website
• supporting residents who are unable to use technology
• making its digital infrastructure more modern and reducing the number of applications
• quickly adapting to hybrid working
• improving digital connectivity across the borough by increasing bandwidth at council sites to give residents better access to the internet.

Cllr Douglas Mills, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, said: “While we have, to date, already made a host of digital improvements, this new strategy and investment of £9 million in digital technologies will significantly propel our vision of being a more digital council into reality and immensely improve our resident, visitor, business and staff experience.

“The document provides a broad, overarching framework for effective business planning and strong performance management within the council to drive the transformation of services to continue to meet the changing needs and expectations of our residents and allow people to transact with the council quicker and more effectively.”

To read the digital strategy and for information and support to help you get online, visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/digital-everyone.

Hillingdon Council has launched a new campaign to encourage residents to recycle more and further reduce contamination by double-checking items before placing them in their clear bags.

Residents are being asked to ‘take two seconds to check your recycling’ and make sure the contents of their clear, dry mixed recycling bags can be recycled.

The contamination rate in Hillingdon currently stands at around 15 per cent, which matches the average rate for London, however the council’s ambition is to improve on this. Contamination occurs when an item which can’t be recycled via the council’s kerbside collections, such as clothing, is put in residents’ clear bags. Too many contaminating items can lead to good recycling being rejected at the sorting facility and the whole load instead going in general waste.

Reducing contamination, while increasing uptake of free kerbside food waste and textiles collections provided by the council and its partners, will all contribute to a net reduction in contamination rates.

Why not take two seconds to check what you can and can’t put in your clear recycling bags in Hillingdon? Visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/dry-mixed-recycling.

The new campaign is visually inspired by ‘Top of the Pops’ style music chart countdowns, listing the top five contaminating items found in the council’s kerbside collections: crisp packets, batteries, nappies and sanitary products, clothing and textiles and the number one contaminant: food items.

The campaign launched on Monday 14 October to coincide with Recycle Week – a national awareness campaign to encourage people across the UK to minimise their household waste by recycling as much as they can.

Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “We know most Hillingdon residents recycle the best they can, but we could all improve if we take two seconds to check we’re only putting items out for collection that can be recycled.

“Our residents have various free services available to them for dealing with items which can’t be placed in the clear bags, including our food waste, garden waste and textiles collections – while our two civic amenity sites will take most other things.

“Recycling correctly is better for the planet as it means less waste is being produced. This small change in behaviour also helps save money and allows us all to play a part in creating a greener future.”

Some items incorrectly put in with the dry mixed recycling can be hazardous, particularly lithium-ion batteries hidden in objects like Bluetooth headphones, old mobile phones and electric toothbrushes. These can risk starting a fire if they get caught up in processing machinery.

Hillingdon Council has launched a WhatsApp channel to send residents news, updates and important alerts making it easier for them to stay informed.

Following the channel is quick and easy to do:

*         download the WhatsApp app on your smartphone

*         open WhatsApp and click on the ‘Updates’ icon

*         search for ‘Hillingdon Council’ and ‘follow’

*         remember to unmute the bell icon so you will be notified when there are new posts.

Cllr Ian Edwards, Leader of the Council, said: “The launch is part of the council’s continuing efforts to be more digitally enabled and create meaningful and efficient engagement with our communities.

“The new WhatsApp channel makes it even quicker and easier for the council to cascade news and important timely updates to our residents. Posting on WhatsApp allows residents to share information with their contacts – especially with anyone who isn’t using Facebook or other social media platforms”.

Alongside the new WhatsApp channel, you can follow Hillingdon Council on Facebook, Instagram, X and Nextdoor, and sign up to receive regular e-newsletters straight to your inbox on the latest news and events at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/enews>.

Please see details below on current consultations which may be of interest:
hillingdon.gov.uk/coteford-infant-consultation
hillingdon.gov.uk/field-end-infant-consultation Continue reading “Hillingdon consultations on 2 year old places at schools”

Hillingdon Council has announced three new initiatives to support its older residents this winter.

The plans were unveiled by Leader of the Council, Cllr Ian Edwards, at a Full Council meeting last night (Thursday 26 September) in response to the cut in winter fuel payments by the government, a move that will impact thousands of pensioners in the borough.

The council will use some of the £2 million Household Support Fund it has been allocated under the latest extension of the scheme to:

• commission a local charity, or other third party, to reach out to all pensioners in the borough and assist those that may be entitled to Pension Credit to submit a claim. Pensioners who may need support to navigate the online application system will receive help directly in their homes
• prioritise the council’s pensioner tenants for energy efficiency improvements planned for its housing stock. Properties with older tenants which have an Energy Performance Certificate of D and below will be prioritised for the programme of new boilers, new double glazing and improved insulation
• create a Pensioners’ Support Fund to help eligible older residents stay warm this winter, with further details of this scheme provided in due course.

This support is in addition to that already provided at warm welcome centres, where the council works in partnership with organisations across the borough so that residents can get information, and advice, have a warm drink, socialise and get involved in activities that are on offer.

Cllr Edwards said: “Unfortunately, the council is not in a position to mitigate entirely the harms of this government cut in winter fuel allowance for some of our most vulnerable residents, but we will be taking these important steps to help support the borough’s 13,000 pensioners this winter.

“The process to submit a claim for Pension Credit can be daunting and is structured mainly for online applications, which is not ideal for older people. This is why we’ll be providing on-hand support with applications, in their homes, to assist them as best we can. By making homes more energy efficient we will permanently lower their energy bills, in some instances by much more than their lost winter fuel allowance ensuring they can continue to heat their houses and stay safe.

“These initiatives are part of our important and proactive work to support thriving, healthy households in the borough and, in particular, help our most vulnerable residents.”

More information will be provided via the council’s website in due course.