The Residents' Services Select Committee met to discuss the Safer Hillingdon Partnership's performance and the Environmental Enforcement Service. The committee also reviewed the forward plan and work programme, and initiated a policy review into Hillingdon's heritage offer.

Safer Hillingdon Partnership Performance

The Safer Hillingdon Partnership (SHP) is in the early stages of implementing its Community Safety Strategy 2026-2029. Progress has been made in strengthening multi-agency working, improving information sharing, and enhancing intelligence-led approaches. Key achievements include the development of forums like Precision Crime Fighting (PCF) and the Violence Vulnerability and Exploitation (VVE) group, which aim to improve coordination and responses to emerging risks. The partnership has also made significant strides in addressing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), with the appointment of a dedicated coordinator and enhancements to victim support. Efforts to reduce violence have been strengthened through targeted interventions and the introduction of Integrated Offender Management arrangements. The partnership also oversees offender management through the Integrated Offender Management Programme, ensuring a collaborative approach to reducing re-offending.

Superintendent Jake Albon-Massey provided an update on policing in Hillingdon, noting an increase in demand but stable overall crime figures, with improvements in positive outcomes. Neighbourhood crime has seen reductions in theft from persons and robbery, though residential burglary has increased. Shoplifting has seen a surge in positive outcomes, encouraging greater reporting. Violence with Injury has remained stable, with a recent reduction in the four-week period. Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) offences have decreased, with reductions in domestic abuse and rape offences. Stop and Search figures have increased, with a high positive outcome rate, primarily for drug-related searches.

Environmental Enforcement Service

The committee reviewed the Environmental Enforcement Service delivered by APCOA Environmental Services. The contract, renewed in December 2025 for five years, covers a range of environmental offences including littering, fly-tipping, and Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) breaches. Between January and June 2026, APCOA issued approximately 5,886 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs), with a focus on compliance and deterrence rather than income generation. The report highlighted that income generated from FPNs exceeded £337,000 in the first half of 2026, with a payment rate between 76% and 88%.

Key enforcement categories included Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) PSPO breaches, littering, and vehicle idling. Hotspot locations for environmental enforcement included Sipson Road and Mondial Way. Fly-tipping remains a significant challenge, with APCOA officers supporting investigations through evidence gathering and vehicle identification. The report also detailed partnership working with various council services and the Metropolitan Police Service, as well as social value contributions from APCOA, such as employment opportunities for local residents. Future priorities include further reductions in fly-tipping, increased intelligence-led deployments, and enhanced resident engagement.

Policy Review: Unlocking Hillingdon's Heritage

The committee initiated a policy review focused on Unlocking Hillingdon's Heritage: Growing Membership, Engagement and Income. This review will examine the Hillingdon Heritage Membership Scheme, which has seen lower-than-expected take-up since its launch in 2025. The aim is to identify practical ways to increase membership, engagement, and income. The review will consider the scheme's purpose and performance, its attractiveness to residents and visitors, promotion effectiveness, and barriers to growth. It will also explore opportunities for increasing income through membership, events, sponsorship, and partnerships, and assess how the heritage offer can support social connection and wellbeing among older residents. The committee agreed to a scoping report for this review, with witness sessions planned to gather evidence.

Forward Plan and Work Programme

The committee reviewed the Cabinet's Forward Plan, noting upcoming decisions and opportunities for scrutiny. They also considered their work programme for the municipal year, which includes regular service and performance monitoring, as well as planned site visits to locations such as the Battle of Britain Bunker and Uxbridge Museum. The multi-year work programme outlines potential review topics and ongoing monitoring activities.