Those who switched off after the Parliamentary elections results on the 7th May, might not be aware that we took back the Leadership of Hounslow Council after 4 years of a Tory/ICG coalition. The Council is now 35 Labour and 25 Tory, with no Lib Dems or Independents.
On Tuesday 25th May at the Council AGM we formally took over. The new Team are as follows:
Leader Jagdish Sharma
Deputy Leader/Housing & Regen: Ruth Cadbury
Executive Members and their Portfolios:
Finance & Performance: Theo Dennison
Environment: Corinna Smart
Leisure & Wellbeing: Pritam Grewal
Adult Social Care & Health: Gurmail Lal
Children’s Services: Lily Bath
Education: Sachin Gupta
Community Safety & Enforcement: Ed Mayne
Communities: Raj Bath
The Mayor is Colin Ellar, with Poonam Dhillon as his Deputy. Matt Harmer is Group Chair, Alan Barber is Chief Whip and Ajmer Grewal, Secretary. Laurie Lopes is our Political Assistant (020 8583 2255) All of us can be contacted via the Members area at the Civic Centre 020 8583 2265. Or see www.hounslow.gov.uk or email us; name.name@hounslow.gov.uk
CUTTING OUR ALLOWANCES
Labour Group has agreed, and Jagdish announced to Council, that we will be reducing the Members Basic Allowance by 5%, and the Special Responsibility Allowances by 20%. We feel that the community of Hounslow will suffer as a result of the budget decisions of the new Government, and Councillors need to demonstrate that we are prepared to set an example to our residents.
LAMPTON PARK CONFERENCE CENTRE
We have instructed Council officers to fully market the Lampton Park Conference Centre (attached to the Civic Centre) for outside functions in order to maximise its full potential for generating income.
OUR 5 PLEDGES
Straight after the election we presented the Chief Executive with our contract with the people of the borough, the 5 Pledges on every leaflet we delivered:
• Action on crime with 100 uniformed officers on the streets in this area and CCTV in crime hotspots
• Extra cash for local schools to improve standards and new school places to give parents a better choice
• A new partnership with local businesses and housing associations to create jobs and build 2,500 affordable homes to rent or buy.
• A 24/7 team of Grimebusters to tackle graffiti, litter and dumped rubbish - and a direct dial phone number for immediate action
• A fresh war on waste and a council tax cut for all residents
We are also committed to delivering a truly listening Council, with effective communications and proper public engagement.
Officers are now working up the delivery plan on all these, and we will be reporting on them regularly.
THE MONTHS AHEAD
We have no illusions that the new Government is going to make life very difficult for Council finances. We won’t know the full details until 22nd June, but we will almost certainly be having to make difficult decisions affecting jobs and services. Notwithstanding that, your Labour Group of Councillors expects to be out knocking on doors, being visible at summer fairs, and listening to the issues concerning local residents
Sunday 30 May 2010
Thursday 20 May 2010
Coming Up for Air
It finally dawned on me that we would be leading the borough, when Phil Andrews (ICG) asked me when counting was under way on the Friday afternoon "How does it feel to be taking back the 6 seats in Isleworth/Syon?"
It's been one of the busiest and strangest two weeks of my life, with little chance to get to the blog. so here's a catch-up:
Friday 7th, we went to bed knowing we had gained control of Hounslow Council,, and lost our Parliamentary seat (Ann Keen) by 2000 votes.
On Tuesday Jagdish Sharma and I were elected (unopposed) by our Labour Group colleagues as Leader and Deputy Leader of Hounslow Labour Group - meaning we will be confirmed as Council Leader/Deputy Leader next Tuesday. At the same time news filtered in from the real world (?) that Gordon was going, and realisation that Cameron/Clegg would be running the country.
On Wednesday morning we handed the Chief Executive the five key pledges on which we were elected and asked him to start work on those until we work up our more detailed programme.
Thursday saw Jagdish and I celebrate with Labour Leadership teams from across London. We had taken control of 18 Councils, up from 9. Two key reasons were having the General Election on the same day so raising interest and turnout, and sheer organisation.
Our new Executive team met on Tuesday where we allocated portfolios and discussed our core priorities. We are all now getting to know the key officers and partners we'll be working most closely over the next four years, and the diary is starting to fill up.
Overall - I am continually bumping into people who say they are so relieved we are back. Council staff in particular have confirmed just how bad it was under the Tory/ICG alliance - the "improvement" programme has in many areas all-but destroyed people's ability to do their job and provide an acceptable service. We have to address that, and ensure that the difficult resource decisions we're going to have to make consider the implications for delivery and outcome. No illusions though that the next months and years are going to be a challenge . . .
It's been one of the busiest and strangest two weeks of my life, with little chance to get to the blog. so here's a catch-up:
Friday 7th, we went to bed knowing we had gained control of Hounslow Council,, and lost our Parliamentary seat (Ann Keen) by 2000 votes.
On Tuesday Jagdish Sharma and I were elected (unopposed) by our Labour Group colleagues as Leader and Deputy Leader of Hounslow Labour Group - meaning we will be confirmed as Council Leader/Deputy Leader next Tuesday. At the same time news filtered in from the real world (?) that Gordon was going, and realisation that Cameron/Clegg would be running the country.
On Wednesday morning we handed the Chief Executive the five key pledges on which we were elected and asked him to start work on those until we work up our more detailed programme.
Thursday saw Jagdish and I celebrate with Labour Leadership teams from across London. We had taken control of 18 Councils, up from 9. Two key reasons were having the General Election on the same day so raising interest and turnout, and sheer organisation.
Our new Executive team met on Tuesday where we allocated portfolios and discussed our core priorities. We are all now getting to know the key officers and partners we'll be working most closely over the next four years, and the diary is starting to fill up.
Overall - I am continually bumping into people who say they are so relieved we are back. Council staff in particular have confirmed just how bad it was under the Tory/ICG alliance - the "improvement" programme has in many areas all-but destroyed people's ability to do their job and provide an acceptable service. We have to address that, and ensure that the difficult resource decisions we're going to have to make consider the implications for delivery and outcome. No illusions though that the next months and years are going to be a challenge . . .
Friday 7 May 2010
Labour Takes Control of Hounslow, ICG Out
After losing Government we celebrated this evening on winning 35 out of 60 seats on the Council. This includes winning back all 6 seats in Isleworth and Syon, 2 in Bedfont, 2 in Hanworth, holding 1 in Feltham West and taking 1 back in Hounslow Heath and of course taking back the 3rd seat in Brentford - good to have Mel Collins back on the Council. So - final Tally: Labour 35, Tories 25.
A massive thank you to everyone who helped, supported and voted for us . . . . .
A massive thank you to everyone who helped, supported and voted for us . . . . .
Well it's confusing, but Labour are not defeated!
Well Ann Keen lost - but only by 2000 votes, and c 6000 votes to the libDems. We will get it back! Off to the Council count to see a) if I retained my Council seat and b) whether we managed to win any seats back so we can take back control of Hounslow. It felt good when doing the sampling last night, and the Labour vote in both elections in Brentford was very strong.
Thank you to everyone who helped in this marathon effort, and to everyone who voted for us.
I'll let you know when we have the Council results.
Thank you to everyone who helped in this marathon effort, and to everyone who voted for us.
I'll let you know when we have the Council results.
Monday 3 May 2010
Good Response this weekend
Great team of 5 supporting Matt Mel and I on the doorsteps this weekend, with another 15 or so delivering the leaflets. Thanks so much for all the help - and we're getting a really good response on the doorstep.
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