The Corporate Resources & Infrastructure Select Committee were scheduled to meet to discuss the Hillingdon Cycle Strategy, and to continue their review into maximising the use of council spaces. The committee was also scheduled to receive a verbal update on financial scrutiny training, and to note the forward plan and work programme.

Hillingdon Cycle Strategy

The committee was scheduled to note the progress on the delivery of the Hillingdon Cycle Strategy, which was launched in September 2024, and to support the proposed next steps in delivery for the 2025/26 financial year. The report pack stated that the council was looking to develop a 'Walking and Wheeling' strategy to compliment and sit alongside the Cycle Strategy.

The report pack noted that the council had received positive feedback on the cycle strategy from stakeholders such as the Canal & River Trust,¹ the London Cycle Campaign, the London Assembly Member, Heathrow Airport and residents' associations.

The report pack listed the following achievements since the launch of the Cycle Strategy:

• Hillingdon Officers were asked by Transport for London (TfL) to present at an event which brought together cycle officers from all boroughs and within TfL.
• Will Norman, the London Walking and Cycling Commissioner has visited Hillingdon to meet with Officers and the Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing and Growth.
• Bikeability training in Hillingdon continues to be delivered and is well-received.
• A new adult cycle training programme was launched at Pield Heath Cycle Track which allows more adults to access training in a safe environment.
• Dr Bike services have been provided at Hillingdon libraries and leisure centres as well as to support the 'Re-Use/Re-Cycle' and 'Mayor's Picnic in the Park' events.
• A parallel 'Tiger Crossing' has been provided across Pield Heath Road to support a future cycling link through Brunel University.
• Designs have been undertaken for junctions along the Celandine Route and consultation on these proposals will begin shortly.
• Working in partnership with the Council, TfL have developed two crossing improvement schemes along the A312, and consultation has been completed on these, they are at Bilton Way, Hayes and Willow Tree Lane, Yeading.
• The upgrade of the Grand Union Canal Towpath between Rockingham Road and Oxford Road has been completed.
• A new cycle wheeling channel has been provided at the access onto the canal at Packet Boat Lane
• A total of five schools have been given cycle parking grants to enhance and expand their scooter and cycle parking offerings.
• New on-street cycle parking has been provided in Ruislip Town Centre.
• Following on from a resident's suggestion, an 'advanced cycle stop line' and related cycle lane has been provided at signals on Park Lane, Harefield.
• Phase 2 of works on North Hyde Road to provide shared space has been completed.
• Feasibility works have been undertaken for a major redevelopment of St Andrew's roundabout to provide better facilities for walking and cycling in the area.

The report pack stated that the following is being proposed for 2025/26:

• Adult and child cycle training.
• Dr Bike events.
• Active travel promotion.
• Upgrade of the canal towpath between Printing House Lane and Station Road, Hayes.
• Further work on the proposed route through Brunel University Campus.
• Further work on junctions along the celandine route.
• Provision of protected cycle lane along Long Lane.
• Cycle parking provision at Northwood, Northwood Hills, and Ruislip Gardens stations.
• Cycle parking in town centres and residential areas.
• Cycle parking grants for schools in the borough.

Maximising Council Spaces: A Review of Business and Private Hire Opportunities

The committee was scheduled to hear from Darren Deeks, Head of Libraries & Cultural Services, and his team, as part of the second witness session of the review into maximising council spaces. The lines of enquiry for this session may include:

• Exploring the provisions already in place, particularly the work by the Cultural Team hiring venues.
• Challenges and any wider issues relating to the review.
• Establish how this can be extended on a wider scale

The report pack included a summary of the room hire offer in public libraries and data around usage, hirer types and income generation.

The library service manages a diverse portfolio of hireable spaces, offering varying capacities and access arrangements:

• Spaces currently available:
  • 7 dedicated meeting rooms
  • 2 main library spaces available as a pilot scheme
  • 1 smaller library area (the Nook at Ruislip Manor)
• There are also former adult education rooms at Ruislip Manor's lower level that could be considered for hire; however, ongoing damp issues and the lack of accessible evacuation routes for disabled users currently restrict their use.
• Beyond formal meeting rooms, the service has facilitated hires within library spaces for commercial and partnership use, such as the Nook agreement with Barclays at RM and a trial branch pop-up with HSBC at Eastcote, which did not progress to a regular arrangement.
• Planned developments include new meeting rooms as part of library relocation and rebuild projects at Uxbridge, Yiewsley and Northwood Hills.

Access to these spaces varies across the estate:

• During and outside regular opening hours (no access required to main library space): Oak Farm, Charville and Harefield.
• During opening hours (spaces accessed via main library area): Botwell Green, Ruislip Manor, Yeading, Ickenham.
• Outside opening hours (requiring access through main library): South Ruislip and Hayes end, generally limited to trusted community groups such as local residents' association.

The report pack stated that the library service successfully bid for funding from the LibraryOn programme (£10K for set-up and first year fees) to implement and online booking system launched in May 2024 has improved booking management, automated payments, and enables the extraction of data for analysis. The project aligns with the Library Strategy's goal of maximising asset use and generating commercial income and wider council agendas.

The report pack included the following recommendations and next steps:

• Community space mapping: Develop a directory of local hireable spaces to better understand available provision and benchmark pricing and facilities.
• Pricing and marketing: Early analysis suggests potential to adjust pricing tiers and trial targeted marketing or introductory discounts to attract new users and stimulate use during low-demand periods.
• Stakeholder engagement: Strengthen collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, local SMEs and community groups to understand evolving space requirements, promote existing offers and guide investment decisions such as for example, assessing local demand for facilities such as hot-desking or meeting pods.
• Gather Insight from Existing Users: Undertake targeted user surveys with existing hirers to better understand the unique selling points (USPs) of our spaces, explore where they typically search for hireable venues, and identify additional features or services that would make our spaces more attractive.
• Broaden Local Marketing Reach: Expand marketing reach by exploring hyperlocal and community-focused channels beyond current platforms, such as Nextdoor and Facebook community groups. Other potential avenues include local WhatsApp groups, community newsletters, LinkedIn for professional or commercial hires, and partnerships with local schools, sports clubs, and voluntary sector organisations to widen awareness. With booking data now accumulated in the system, we can also track and assess the impact of these campaigns.

Cabinet Forward Plan

The committee was scheduled to consider the Cabinet Forward Plan. The forward plan sets out the key decisions and other decisions to be taken by the Cabinet and Cabinet Members over the coming year.

The report pack stated that as part of its terms of reference, each select committee should consider the forward plan and comment as appropriate to the decision-maker on the items listed which, if it deems necessary, relate to services within its remit.

The report pack listed a number of actions that the committee may consider on specific items listed on the forward plan:

• To provide specific comments to be included in a future Cabinet or Cabinet Member report on matters within its remit.
• To request further information on future reports listed under its remit.
• To request the Cabinet Member considers providing a draft of the report, if feasible, for the Select Committee to consider prior to it being considered formally for decision.
• To identify a forthcoming report that may merit a post-decision review at a later Select Committee meeting

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to consider the Work Programme and agree any amendments. The report pack listed the following forthcoming meeting dates:

• 17 September 2025
• 19 November 2025
• 6 January 2026
• 12 February 2026
• 5 March 2026
• 7 April 2026