Hounslow Council has unveiled its new Corporate Plan, A Fairer Future,
outlining its strategic priorities for 2026-2030. The plan, approved by the Cabinet and set for recommendation to the Borough Council, focuses on creating a more equitable borough through four key themes: A Responsive Council, For Residents, For the Borough, and For the Organisation.
Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of the Council, presented the plan, emphasizing its commitment to delivering accessible, responsive, and high-quality services. The plan aims to address inequalities by focusing on early childhood support, learning and opportunity, employment, community life, and healthy living. It also prioritizes the development of homes, vibrant neighbourhoods, inclusive growth, and robust infrastructure.
Key immediate priorities include launching a new young people's mental health hub, expanding breastfeeding support, investing in playgrounds, strengthening family hubs, and progressing new social rent homes at Charlton House and Bellvue Court. The plan also outlines initiatives to raise standards in the private rented sector and improve street cleaning and waste management services.
To raise standards in the private rented sector, the Council will implement strengthened protections for private renters, including new statutory duties for local authorities to actively enforce landlord legislation under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. This will shift from a discretionary to a mandatory enforcement framework. The Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy framework has been updated to ensure compliance with the Act, reduce legal and operational risk, and provide clarity for officers, landlords, and tenants. Enforcement will follow a graduated and proportionate approach, escalating from advice and informal action to formal enforcement notices and potentially sanctions like Civil Financial Penalties or prosecution. The Council will target enforcement activity on areas such as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), outbuildings and annexes, landlords and agents who evade compliance, portfolio landlords, mixed-use properties, problem localities, and properties with low energy efficiency ratings.
Enforcement mechanisms include the provision of advice and guidance, monitoring and engagement, and the service of statutory notices or orders where there is non-compliance or serious risk. The Council can impose civil penalties of up to £7,000 for certain breaches and up to £40,000 for more serious offences, with a detailed matrix and factors for determining the level of penalty. The Council can also apply for Rent Repayment Orders (RROs) to require landlords to refund rent for specific qualifying offences and may consider applying for Banning Orders against serious offenders. Where landlords fail to comply with a statutory notice, the Council may carry out works in default and will seek to recover all associated costs and fees. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 also grants expanded investigatory powers to the Council.
Financially, the plan is supported by the One Hounslow Financial Strategy, which aims to rebuild reserves and ensure sustainable service delivery. While the council faces ongoing demand pressures, particularly in adult social care and children's services, the strategy outlines a path to financial stability and investment in key priorities. The plan also acknowledges the need for careful management of the Dedicated Schools Grant and maintained schools' finances.
The Corporate Plan's implementation will be guided by a new Performance Management Framework, with quarterly updates to Cabinet to track progress and adapt strategies as needed. The council aims to foster a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging data and partnerships to achieve its vision of a fairer Hounslow.
For more details on the Cabinet meeting where this plan was discussed, please refer to the Public reports pack, Agenda frontsheet, and Printed minutes.