Hounslow meeting cancellations spark political backlash

Hounslow’s political leaders are at loggerheads following the decision to cancel almost all remaining public meetings before the upcoming elections, with opposition councillors labelling the move a ‘weakening of scrutiny’.

Local Conservatives have spoken out against Hounslow Labour’s decision to cancel almost all remaining public meetings between now and the election.

Labour Mayor Councillor Amy Croft recently announced that she had cancelled the last borough council meeting of the year, which had been due to take place on 24th March, citing a ‘lack of substantive business’. This followed decisions by all Labour-run Area Forums to cancel their meetings during the pre-election period. Councillor Peter Thompson, Leader of the Conservative Group, called the move ‘extraordinary’, stating: “Residents are concerned about rising Council Tax, stretched services, and the council’s financial management. To suggest there is nothing to debate is extraordinary. Full council is not an optional extra; it is the central democratic forum of our borough. Cancelling it weakens scrutiny and reduces accountability.
“No wonder people lose confidence in politicians when opportunities for open debate are cut back rather than strengthened.” The only remaining Area Forum set to go ahead is the Chiswick Area Forum, led by Conservative councillor Jack Emsley. The meeting will take place at Chiswick Town Hall on Tuesday 17th March.

Cllr Emsley commented: “I’m very proud to be the chair of the Chiswick Area Forum. It’s a fantastic chance to engage with, and scrutinise, local councillors. That’s why it’s so disappointing that every other Area Forum in the borough has been cancelled.”

He went on to question the continued payment of allowances to chairs of cancelled forums: “Area Forum chairs are paid an additional allowance to organise these meetings. If Labour councillors don’t want to do the job, they should either pay back this allowance or hand over to councillors who will.”

A Hounslow Labour Group spokesperson dismissed the comments as ‘political grandstanding’, noting that the work of a chair is a year-round responsibility that extends far beyond a single meeting.

“The decision was not taken for party-political reasons,” the spokesperson said. They further challenged the Conservatives’ record, adding: “We were surprised to see that their budget amendment proposed cutting the number of staff who facilitate these forums and work with local voluntary organisations.”

A Hounslow Council spokesperson said: “In the run up to an election, necessary council meetings go ahead, in compliance with any regulations.

“However, as at any time, if a meeting does not have sufficient business to consider, the chair of that meeting is asked if they want to cancel it, or not. The chair makes this decision.

“This was the case with all cancelled meetings over the next few weeks. Each associated chair was asked their view and decided not to hold the meeting in question.”