The Potential Collapse of Public Engagement and Scrutiny

Chiswick Homefields Councillor Gerald McGregor reports on his week

Cllr Gerarld McGregor

January 17, 2023

My colleague Cllr Ron Mushiso (Chair of Chiswick Area Forum, Conservative Member for Chiswick Gunnersbury) has released a statement regarding changes to the frequency of area forums:

“The decision taken in December by the Cabinet Member for Communities to adopt a change in the number of Area Forums that take place – reducing them from five times a year to four, is unconducive to the process of public scrutiny and democracy.

Area forums have proven to be a useful platform for residents to not only understand more about what the council is doing in their local area, but allows residents a direct platform to be heard by policy makers.

Looking back at the last Chiswick Area Forum where there was a record turnout of concerned residents who wanted to hear directly from the Deputy Leader of the Council about Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and Cycleway 9 and from senior officers charged with implementing these policies.

This exercise of public scrutiny and accessible democracy is something we need more of and not less of – especially considering the incredible number of cancelled council meetings we have had during this past municipal year.

I hope the Labour Administration will reverse this decision and enable more public participation at all levels (especially area forums).”

Councillor McGregor writes in support

The Conservative Group on Hounslow Council has real concerns about the continued cloaking of schemes that are controversial, where consultation is at a minimum level or as in the case of traffic limiting schemes such as Hartington Road and Staveley Gardens do huge harm to local residents and who now need permits; or where the interests of cyclists in Chiswick High Road involves spending tens of millions of pounds of taxpayer money or gathering tens of millions of pounds in fines (PCNs) from unwary motorists without feedback being acknowledged. These schemes are spreading across Brentford and Isleworth and into the west of the Borough with the same pattern of behaviour by those in authority.

The Labour Group and its spokespeople are all of a piece…”People will get used to it…” but a loss of freedom is a loss of freedom and no mantras about doing people good and forcing health issues via polluting schemes and dangerous road architecture can ever be justified.The Conservative group who hold weekly surgeries at Chiswick Library all tell the same tales of residents fighting to understand what is happening to them whilst the group tries to hold the Labour perpetrators to account through scrutiny and publicity.

Councillor Jo Biddolph was reporting back last week.

She attached a slew of advice and information for residents about council activity

MORE ON PLANNING

Here is more information about how to engage the council with regard to planning from Cllr McGregor.

This week there has been a big concentration by all councillors with training and development on how to guide people objecting to building applications and development plans so here are some of the things that can be done in presenting a case and keeping tabs on the progress of an application:

Consultation “What to do when objecting to a planning proposal” Step 1 Get advice and talk to a local Conservative Councillor (see the list below)

Step 2 When objecting to a planning proposal there are a range of issues which can be considered and this relies on a concept of what is material.

Material consideration is a matter that should be taken into account in deciding a planning application or on an appeal against a planning decision.

Step 3 Contact the planning department and submit your objection in writing
Material considerations for a planning case can include (but are not limited to):

Overlooking/loss of privacy
Loss of light or overshadowing
Parking
Highway safety
Traffic
Noise
Effect on listed building and conservation area
Layout and density of building
Design, appearance and materials
Government policy
Disabled persons' access
Proposals in the Development Plan
Previous planning decisions (including appeal decisions)
Nature conservation
However, issues such as loss of view, or negative effect on the value of properties are not material considerations.
There is no set list defining material considerations, your Local Planning Authority will decide what is deemed to be 'material'.
West London Planning Authorities are contactable as follows:
HOUNSLOW ENQUIRIES Direct
( planning@hounslow.gov.uk )
EALING ENQUIRIES Via Home Page
www.ealing.gov.uk
HAMMERSMITH AND FULHAM ENQUIRIES Via Home Page
www.lbhf.gov.uk

What to do if you want to follow a case in Hounslow

Searching planning applications in Hounslow covering Chiswick Riverside, Chiswick Homefields and Chiswick Gunnersbury:

This internet service allows you to view the details of planning applications that have been submitted to the Planning Department.

You can:

Monitor the progress of an application
View online the drawings and associated documents submitted since January 2009, with details of determined applications gradually being added.
Submit comments about an application
Search a list of applications validated or decided each week
View whether an appeal has been lodged and any appeal decisions
View recent officer reports and all Decision Notices.

This service allows you to view the details of planning applications that have been submitted to the Planning Department.

The Database History: Note you can normally only search for historic applications received since 1st January 1991. Occasionally, there are short delays in making application documents available for inspection at the start of the application process, but they are usually visible to the public as soon as neighbour notification letters have been sent out.

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