Heston West councillor reflects on service and duty

In this week’s Conservative Group column, Councillor Karamat Malik, who represents Heston West, reflects on the sad passing of Deputy Mayor Junue Meah, while raising concerns over cancelled council meetings and the borough’s financial priorities.

Like many across the borough, I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Councillor Junue Meah, the Deputy Mayor of Hounslow.

Councillor Meah served residents with dedication and enthusiasm since being elected in 2022 and quickly became a familiar figure at community events across Hounslow. Attending his funeral on Wednesday really showed held him in high regard, hundreds gathered in testament to this.

He also made history as the borough’s first deputy mayor of Bangladeshi heritage. Whatever our political differences, anyone who steps forward to serve their community deserves recognition for that commitment.

Local government relies on people who are willing to give their time, often quietly and without recognition, to represent residents. By all accounts, Councillor Meah took that responsibility seriously.

From me and my colleagues in the Conservative Group, our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. May he rest in peace.

Moments like this remind us what local government should be about: service, responsibility and showing up for the communities we represent.

Unfortunately, that sense of responsibility has not always been reflected in how the Labour administration is currently running Hounslow Council.

Recently we have seen borough council meetings cancelled due to what has been described as a ‘lack of business’. That might sound like a procedural matter, but it actually raises an important question about local democracy.

Full council meetings are the main opportunity for councillors from across the borough to debate issues publicly, question decisions and raise matters affecting residents. When meetings are cancelled, those opportunities disappear.

More concerning still has been the cancellation of Area Forums. As one of the councillors who attends the Heston and Cranford Area Forum, I find this particularly disappointing.

Area Forums are one of the most important ways residents can speak directly with councillors, council officers and local police about the issues affecting their neighbourhoods. They provide a space for residents to raise concerns about things like antisocial behaviour, traffic, planning and local services.

When those meetings are cancelled, residents lose a valuable opportunity to have their voices heard. For councillors like me who value that direct engagement, it is extremely frustrating to see these forums treated as optional when they should be a core part of local democracy.

At the same time, the council’s financial position remains deeply concerning. Residents are facing the maximum council tax increase while the administration struggles to close significant budget gaps.

Despite that pressure on households, the council continues to spend heavily on internal bureaucracy while looking to increase revenue from enforcement and fines. That cannot be the only answer.

As Conservatives, we put forward an alternative budget which identified savings by reducing unnecessary overheads, reviewing internal structures and cutting political allowances. The aim was simple: make savings within the council before asking residents to pay more.

Those savings would then be redirected towards frontline priorities such as strengthening domestic violence services, improving homelessness prevention and tackling environmental crime like fly-tipping.

But budgets and council meetings are only one part of the story. Being a councillor is ultimately about representing residents day-to-day.

Across Heston West I receive regular casework about housing issues, anti-social behaviour, planning concerns, street maintenance and many other matters. It might not always make headlines but helping residents navigate problems and making sure their voices are heard is at the heart of the role.

Residents expect councillors to be accessible, responsive and willing to stand up for their community.

Public service should always be about dedication to the people we represent. That is something residents rightly expect from all councillors.

And it is something I will continue striving to deliver for the communities I represent.