The Residents' Services Select Committee meeting scheduled for 10 June 2026 was set to cover a range of service updates and policy discussions. Key topics included an introduction to the council's overview and scrutiny functions, updates on the council's forward plan and work programme, and service briefings on various resident-facing areas.

Introduction to Overview & Scrutiny in Hillingdon

The committee was scheduled to receive an introductory report on the role of overview and scrutiny within Hillingdon Council. This report, presented by Mark Braddock, Statutory Scrutiny Officer, was intended to outline how select committees operate, their general responsibilities, and the specific remit of the Residents' Services Select Committee. The report highlighted that overview and scrutiny functions are a statutory requirement for councils and are designed to assist in policy development, improve services, and evaluate the actions of the executive. The principles of effective overview and scrutiny, as outlined in statutory guidance, include providing constructive challenge, amplifying public concerns, and being led by democratically elected councillors. The report also detailed how overview and scrutiny in Hillingdon is arranged, aligning with Cabinet Member portfolios and Officer Directorates, and outlined the general responsibilities of select committees, such as monitoring the Cabinet Forward Plan, post-decision scrutiny, and undertaking policy reviews.

Cabinet Forward Plan

The committee was set to review the Cabinet's latest Forward Plan, which details key decisions and other decisions to be taken by the Cabinet and individual Cabinet Members over the coming year. The report, presented by Liz Penny, Democratic Services Officer, outlined the actions available to the committee in monitoring this plan, including providing specific comments on items within its remit, requesting further information, and identifying forthcoming reports that may merit post-decision review. The Forward Plan itself listed several upcoming items relevant to the committee's remit, including the procurement of fleet vehicles, a report on homelessness and the customer journey, and a proposed Parking Strategy.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to consider its Work Programme for the current municipal year, presented by Liz Penny. This report aimed to enable the committee to forward plan its activities and note future meeting dates. The programme included scheduled meetings throughout the year, with planned site visits to locations such as the Council's CCTV control room, Manor Farm Heritage Site, Eastcote House Gardens, and Ruislip Woods. The work programme also detailed planned discussions on various service areas, including waste services, highways, transportation, and community safety, as well as statutory scrutiny of the Safer Hillingdon Partnership.

Service Briefings

The agenda indicated that the committee would receive verbal updates on various service areas within its remit. These briefings were expected to cover a broad range of council functions, including:

• Introduction to Overview & Scrutiny in Hillingdon: As detailed above, this was a key item to inform the committee about its own operational framework.
• Forward Plan: The committee was to review the Cabinet's Forward Plan, as described above.
• Work Programme: The committee was to consider its planned activities for the year, as outlined above.

The report pack also included minutes from previous meetings held on 22 April 2026 and 14 May 2026. The minutes from the 22 April meeting detailed discussions on budget and spend monitoring, where officers clarified the meaning of favourable staffing movements and the process for evaluating roles in cases of potential redundancies. The committee also noted the budget monitoring position for the council and its services. A significant portion of the 22 April meeting was dedicated to an update on the council's legal and policy framework for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Officers discussed enforcement challenges, the impact of the Renters' Rights Act, and the implementation of additional licensing. The committee also received an update on sport and physical activity for young people, with discussions on encouraging participation at the new Hillingdon Outdoor Activity Centre and addressing inactivity rates post-COVID-19. Finally, an update on the Homeless Prevention Review was presented, focusing on the implementation of the Renters' Rights Act and common reasons for prevention failures. The minutes from the 14 May meeting primarily recorded the election of Councillor Peter Smallwood OBE as Chair and Councillor Daniel Singham as Vice-Chair for the 2026/2027 municipal year.