News from your council March/April 2021 Get tested to slow the spread of the virus Protect your community and get vaccinated Budget approved for 2021/22 Could you foster? RECYCLING CARE SUPPORT IN BLOOM advertisements people Contents March/April 2021 ▸ Cover stories 8 Hayes cinema plans move a step closer n my first Hillingdon People column as Leader of the Revised proposals for a new four-screen complex Council, I would like to reassure you that there will be were approved in January. Ino reduction in the services that we deliver and we will continue to stay resolutely focused on putting residents first. ▸ 9 Budget for 2021/22 approved Investing in the future and continuing to put Last month the council set its budget for 2021/22, once residents first. again keeping the council tax rise to 90 per cent of our neighbouring boroughs', with a small increase of 1.8 per ▸ 14 Could you make a difference? cent, and showing our commitment to maintaining and Our new campaign hopes to inspire local people to investing in services and facilities for residents of all ages. foster children and young people. Fees and charges on services provided by the council for Hillingdon residents, including parking charges, will also remain at least 10 ▸ 19 Working together to keep Hillingdon safe per cent lower than those charged by neighbouring authorities. The council continues to support residents, local Additionally, the council’s strong financial management has businesses and community groups during the pandemic. meant that we will be able to support the borough’s COVID-19 recovery, with £10 million set aside as contingency should ▸ 22 Protect yourself and your community government grants not be sufficient to alleviate funding pressures. Hillingdon’s vaccination programme gathers pace The council will continue to invest in your parks, libraries and provides hope for the future. and leisure facilities; make improvements to support local high streets; resurface your roads and pavements, build 24 Taking action to maintain pavements new homes and provide additional school places. We answer some of your most frequently asked You can read about a range of investment projects in this questions about vehicle crossovers/dropped kerbs. issue of Hillingdon People, including our ongoing library refurbishment programme, the recent playgrounds that have Regulars benefitted from upgrades thanks to our popular Chrysalis 4 Hillingdon News 10 Older People scheme and the installation of a new bowling clubhouse. At the same time, our focus and priority is tackling the COVID-19 32 Volunteers 35 Contacts pandemic by supporting residents and local businesses during these challenging times and working with our health partners COVER PHOTO: PAUL DAY WHO WORKS IN SOUTH RUISLIP GETS TESTED FOR COVID-19. SEE PAGE 19 FOR MORE DETAILS. to help us return to a more normal life as soon as possible. We have also been working in partnership with the Metropolitan Police to take enforcement action against those who are not adhering to the guidelines. As the vaccination programme gathers pace, I would like to encourage you to have your vaccine as soon as you are offered one. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective, and gives you the best protection against the virus. It will also help to protect 12 16 friends, family and your local community from this deadly disease. Whether you have or haven’t had the vaccine it’s imperative that you continue to follow government guidance and remember to regularly wash your hands, wear a face covering when required and keep a safe distance from others. I would also like to encourage residents who are not displaying symptoms to regularly use our lateral flow testing 26 28 centres, especially those who cannot work from home. As many as one in three people with COVID-19 do not have Advertising deadline for next edition: Friday 2 April 2021. symptoms and may be spreading the virus without knowing it. We have now opened seven testing centres and I can Editorial and advertising enquiries confirm, as I regularly have one, that the test is quick and 01895 556903 easy and enables those who test positive, and their contacts, [email protected] to self-isolate and drive the rate of infection down. www.hillingdon.gov.uk/hillingdonpeople I have been impressed by how Hillingdon residents have come together to support each other during the pandemic, After reading, please and would like to thank you all for your efforts. recycle this magazine Stay safe Published by London Borough of Hillingdon © 2021 Hillingdon People, 3S/05 Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW. Design Corporate Communications Printed by Paragon Service Point Products and services advertised in this magazine are not necessarily endorsed by the council. For a copy in large print or as an Cllr Ian Edwards audio version call 01895 556903 LEADER OF THE COUNCIL 2 March/April 2021 March/April 2021 3 news news Students vote on the issues New Council Leader appointed and Cabinet announced that matter to them most Cllr Ian Edwards became the borough. Cllr Puddifoot before retiring after more He became a councillor Leader of the Council will remain a ward member than 30 years' service in in 2014, first representing At the end of last year, on Thursday 14 January, for Ickenham until the next 2007. He then served as a Yiewsley. Since 2018, he pupils aged between replacing Cllr Sir Ray election in May 2022. chief officer at Hillingdon has been a councillor 11 to 18 from across the Puddifoot MBE, the council’s Cllr Edwards has been Council for three years, for his home ward of borough took part in the longest serving leader. a resident of the borough with the responsibility for Eastcote and East Ruislip. Government grant gives UK Youth Parliament's At January’s Full Council since 1982 and is a former developing partnerships The council’s Make Your Mark election, access to jobs and training, meeting, councillors gave police officer, having risen and supporting Cabinet was also the borough a green boost where they got the followed by homelessness. a vote of thanks for Cllr to the position of Borough voluntary and third announced, and chance to vote on a Domestic violence will Puddifoot’s long service to Commander for Richmond sector organisations. includes: The council is benefitting and valuable experience to range of topics that they be one of Hillingdon Youth from a £190,000 kick-start their future careers. feel are important. Council’s key priorities government grant to The team will also clear The ballot, which took for the coming year. provide a programme rivers of invasive species, like place in November 2020, Additionally, Nikita of environmental and floating pennywort, which allowed young people to Khosla (pictured left), community engagement. blocks rivers and canals. vote on 10 local topics. age 15, from Ickenham, The Green Recovery Additionally, the council The ballot results were and a member of the Challenge Fund is designed will use the funding to announced in December Hillingdon Youth Council, to help the natural employ an education and highlighted that young was elected Deputy Chair environment thrive. The and events officer who people across the UK of the London Youth fund is being delivered will mainly work at Ruislip were mostly concerned Assembly in January. by the National Lottery Woods but also at Denham about domestic violence She said: “I am beyond Cllr Ian Edwards Cllr Jonathan Bianco Cllr Martin Goddard Cllr Eddie Lavery Heritage Fund in partnership Woods. The officer will as this topic gained more proud to be representing Leader of the Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member Cabinet Member for with Natural England and oversee a range of green votes than any other issue. Hillingdon as the acting Cabinet Member for for Finance Environment, Housing the Environment Agency. courses, such as charcoal The second most pressing Deputy Chair of the Property and Infrastructure and Regeneration The council and charity making, for young people concern for voters was London Youth Assembly Groundwork South were and adults. They will and will do all in my power jointly awarded the also help to deliver an to ensure the group can money in December. education programme to make positive changes, The grant will be used to Hillingdon schools, called both within our areas, and set up a ‘green team’ in the ‘Classroom in the Woods.’ the wider community.” Colne Valley Regional Park This involves mainly Find out more about consisting of young residents, primary school children Hillingdon Youth Council who will be employed and taking part in environmental by emailing youthcouncil@ trained, which will enable education activities such hillingdon.gov.uk or them to gain qualifications as ‘mini beast hunts.’ calling 07809 230759. Cllr Douglas Mills Cllr Susan O'Brien Cllr Jane Palmer Cllr John Riley Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Corporate Services Families, Education Health and Social Care Public Safety and Transport Libraries host a variety of online activities for Heart Month and Transformation and Wellbeing In February, more than 50 encouraged to take a Later in the month, there and sad - and what they free online events were healthy walk to explore was an interview with could do when they were held at libraries across their nearby surroundings Dr Sarb Johal, a clinical ever feeling down to make the borough to mark and take part in the Mayor psychologist who grew them feel better. They Has your household taken part in Census 2021 yet? National Heart Month. of Hillingdon’s Feel Good up in Hillingdon and now made a colourful art project The council is calling on all with a unique access code get the resources they need Census Support Centres During the month-long Photography Competition lives in New Zealand.