The Cabinet of Hillingdon Council met on Thursday 18 May 2017, discussing efforts to tackle child sexual exploitation, improvements to Hayes Town Centre, and updates on plans for older people and carers. Decisions were made to agree the recommendations from the External Services Scrutiny Committee's report on child sexual exploitation, approve the proposed Potwell Bridge and Ford Walk improvements in Hayes, and accept the progress updates for the Older People's Plan and the Carers Strategy.

Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation

The Cabinet received an update on efforts to tackle child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Hillingdon, following a review by the External Services Scrutiny Committee. The report highlighted that while significant training has been undertaken across various organisations, including the Metropolitan Police Service and Hillingdon Hospital, there are still areas for improvement. Recommendations included extending CSE training to all councillors, providing additional training on reporting missing children, and investigating the creation of a CSE resource map for the borough. Councillor David Simmonds CBE emphasised the need for vigilance, stating, no part of the country can be complacent when it comes to dealing with this. Councillor John Riley, Chair of the Corporate Resources & Infrastructure Select Committee, presented the report, noting that a good deal has been done in the past to improve our position. The Cabinet agreed to the recommendations presented in the report.

Hayes Town Transformation

Improvements to Hayes Town Centre were discussed, with a focus on the proposed Potwell Bridge and Ford Walk developments. This forms part of a wider investment of around £9 million into the area. The project aims to enhance pedestrian and cyclist flow, particularly with the impending arrival of Crossrail. Councillor Jonathan Bianco, Deputy Leader of the Council & Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Property, explained that the design would increase the flow and make the canal beneath Potwell Bridge more visible. While a more extensive link to the Nestle site was considered, the cost was deemed unjustifiable, making the Ford Walk option a more viable solution. The recommendations for these improvements were agreed.

Older People's Plan Update

An update on the Older People's Plan revealed positive developments over the past year, aligning with the council's wider health and wellbeing strategy. Councillor Wayne Bridges, Cabinet Member for Community & Environment, highlighted initiatives such as increased uptake of free swimming, continued popularity of tea dances, and the expansion of dementia support services. He noted that loneliness among older people is the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day in terms of causes of early death, underscoring the importance of social interaction. The report also detailed the distribution of 7,000 free burger alarms ¹ for residents over 65, and over 3,600 individuals over 80 receiving free telecare line services. The council's brown badge scheme, offering parking concessions for over 65s, now has over 10,500 active users. The Cabinet agreed to the recommendations.

Carers Strategy Progress Update

The Cabinet also reviewed the progress of the Carers Strategy, another initiative linked to the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Councillor Jane Palmer, Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care, presented the update, highlighting the positive impact of the new Carers in Hillingdon contract, which provides a single point of access for carers. The report indicated a significant increase in carers' assessments, with 513 completed in the past year, a 15.54% rise. The inaugural Carers Recognition Scheme was also mentioned as a successful event for raising awareness. As of March 31, 2017, nearly 6,000 active adult carers were registered with the Hillingdon Carers Partnership, and there were 254 young carer referrals. The recommendations were agreed.