Forum Topic

Chiswick dominated executive bad for Brentford?

Some will argue that the shift in power to the east is just what the borough needs.  I myself am worried about Chiswick councillors marginalising Brentford here in the middle where there clearly there is no tory audience of any sort to keep happy. I'm not best pleased that the Lib Dems abstained and I'd like to ask Andrew Dakers what he felt this would achieve for us? What was the Lib Dem groups' reason for doing so?The very first thing this Tory-ICG partnership will do is rummage the parking policy cupboard. I wonder what Phil Andrews thoughts are on this prospect.There are very good reasons why Chiswick should have higher parking charges than the rest of us and I bet they'll throw this out and look after themselves. I don't see why any of us here in Brentford should pay the same charges as Chiswick residents. Chiswick is an area which is undoubtedly afflicted with much more serious parking pressures than the rest of us and clearly takes more resources and therefore more finance to manage. Stands to reason that they pay more for their own troubles.Just what will happen next?

Conal Stewart ● 6998d55 Comments

Actually I studied idiocy at Cambridge before going onto take a post graduate degree in Idiot Studies at Harvard then eventually taking a chair to be a Professeur de Idiotie at the Sorbonne. There I was commissioned to do a special study on Idiots for the UN. Funnily enough Conal Stewart seemed to be on every reading list I was ever given.

Justin Harris ● 6984d

A better qualified idiot, perhaps?

The Pseudometer ● 6984d

Philip - the Fountains Leisure centre is actually on Chiswick High Road so it is hard for you to claim that Chiswick residents don't benefit from it. It wouldn't make sense for the Council to build its best facilities right on the edge of the borough where most of the people using them wouldn't be local Council tax payers."I really don't think you sit in the kind of intellectual space that allows you to call others idiots"I though that this was beautifully put.

Justin Harris ● 6984d

The data on Upmystreet is generally borough-wide so you can't really use it to compare one area in Hounslow to another. They do use the ACORN classifications for individual post codes for some things but these are very impressionistic and some say they can be grossly inaccurate. They are used by companies doing mailshots who aren't really interested in much detail beyond average income and household size. The Neighbourhood part of the National Statistics site is a brilliant resource and I would have thought would provide much better information on questions like this. Does saying this qualify me to be an idiot like the others?

Justin Harris ● 6984d

Conal having read many of your posts I really don't think you sit in the kind of intellectual space that allows you to call others idiots; it lends nothing to your somewhat confused view. How can it be more cost efficient to walk around an area with fewer revenue gathering victims to fleece than to walk around an area which has many, that’s simply illogical. I suspect that as a resident of Chiswick I already pay more in council taxes than you, I also suspect I have less income with which to fund parisite policys. It should also be noted that Chiswick residents do not have a council funded art center the swimming pool that we ended up with is tiny compared to Brentford’s. we don’t have facilities such as a local Majesties or Civil Court in our area, its our local library building that the Council keeps trying to steal and we are not having many millions of pounds pumped into rejuvenating our area, so what is it, that makes it so justified in ripping us off for your benefit?.

Philip Walsh ● 6984d

It costs more to have a PA patrol a less densely populated area i.e. Brentford with fewer paid permits.Still, never let the facts get in the way of a good purple veiner!

The Pseudometer ● 6984d

And apparently I am wrong.  IT simply costs more to manage an area where there is more pressure for spaces. NO matter what certain idiots claim on here.  I see no reason why I should sub chicwick residents who are the ones with the parking problems and DO have higher levels of car ownership. A quick search of upmystreet.com will indicate as such without even having to go to the ONS.

Conal Stewart ● 6984d

While I partly agree with you - I think not recognising the many years that the Labour Council did deliver the goods is a tad unfair. There are a few people I think who do not want to face the fact that the last four years was a total disaster, because in part their refusal to speak out contributed to the election disaster. Many of us saw this coming well over two years ago, but it was easier to shout the rest of us down rather than stick heads over the parapet. The shambles of the last few months really was the straw that broke the camel's back, and of course national issues did play a big part but to blame the loss of Hounslow Council on that really is playing the ostrich. I hope that this is the wake up call needed, but looking at the make up of the current Labour Group I'm not sure they're much to write home about.

Vanessa Smith ● 6985d

Looking at this and other threads on the forum it is clear that the local Labour party is in denial about the recent elections.It wasn't John Prescott, the war in Iraq or Ruth Kelly and Opus Dei that caused Labour to lose the council; it was the direct consequence of decades of poor rule from an inefficient and occasionally deceitful council that led to the defeat.I suspect that there were many people like me across the borough that gritted their teeth and voted Conservative for the first time in their voting life (in my case 27 years) because we didn't want to see the continued misrule of the Borough and wanted to give another party a chance.To suggest that after decades of one party rule that there are no efficiencies to be made in the running of the borough is clearly ridiculous and indicative of the poor management that the local Labour party has brought to the borough in the last few decades.Let's see what improvements the new administration can make and how democracy can be improved within the council.A good first step would be to rescind the increase in visitors' parking fees so that my friends and relatives don't need to pay £12 a day for the privilege of parking near my house when they come to stay.

Stephen Thornton ● 6985d

So not only should we in Chiswick have the highest pollution, the most problematic parking but also pay the most for the privilege and you wonder why people in Chiswick voted Tory (I didn’t, seeing as both labour and conservative were pretending to be green, I decided to vote for somebody that was. There are poor people living in Chiswick too, not everybody is rich and the residents of Brentford do not have a monopoly on poverty although to listen to some of them whinge you would think so. The right to a residents permit should come automatically to residents no matter where they reside and visitors should be required to pay. This would deal with the parking issue as an issue as apposed to an exercise in revenue gathering that is the current policy plan. It should also be mentioned that the residents in west Chiswick rejected the parking proposals in the consultation process only to see it forced on us at a later date, in complete defiance of the clearly stated wishes of the majority. This abuse of the process of consultation was put down to the effort of people living in two roads the truth is they were a convenient group onto whom attention was shifted to disguise the revenue gathering opportunisms of Hounslow council. I am looking forward to Brentford becoming busier through all the inward investments and seeing if the increased parking pressures lead to a call to put up local parking charges to levels similar to, or perhaps even higher than Chiswick’s. I can hear the sound of stuck pigs squealing already.

Philip Walsh ● 6986d

These comments are either seriously misinformed or deliberately misleading. In setting up a controlled parking zone there would be a series of fixed costs such as the consultation and approval process as well as variable costs such as painting in the lines and putting up the signeage. There is no reason why these should be significantly different from one part of the borough to the next.The absolute cost of a scheme would obviously depend on its size and the Chiswick ones do tend to be bigger but that is no justification for having a higher permit charge because the greater number of permits issued would cover the extra cost. On a unit basis i.e. per number of parking bays in the scheme the cost of the Chiswick schemes would be lower because the fixed cost is the same no matter how big or small a scheme is.The revenue that has been milked from the Chiswick schemes is also far greater making up 75% of borough parking revenue. This may have been due to policy or perhaps simply that it is easier for parking attendents to stay in Chiswick full-time issuing tickets than travelling between the smaller more isolated elsewhere in the borough. Whatever the reason it means that the Chiswick CPZs are much more profitable than elsewhere. Thus on the basis of cost or profit there is no justification.The desire to split from the borough felt by many people in Chiswick was a result of discriminatory policies like this. As there is a new administration which hopefully will put an end to this sort of vindictive score settling the issue of breaking away is no longer relevant.

Justin Harris ● 6990d

That's my understanding too - however I'm not sure why people think that Brentford or for that matter Isleworth and Hounslow might "suffer" - I never thought the Feltham domination particularly good for us, and everything was a bloody struggle then, it really is up to ward councillors to fight their corner as it always has been. I really would like to know if Chiswick is still planning to secede from the borough altogether, or has Tory domination blunted the appetite for that?

Vanessa Smith ● 6990d

I understand that it cost more to set up and manage the parking schemes in Chiswick thus the higher charges.

Alan Sheerins ● 6990d

Why would Chiswick Councillors want to marginalise Brentford ? Did we all do somthing to them ? Give me a good reason why they should pay more to park ? In fact give me a good reason why I should pay to park in Brentford. The fact is every Local Authority has found out that this is a great way to extort money from people to boost the coffers. Let`s blame the commuters shall we, forget that every day they spend money in this Borough and throughout London and drive on roads reminiscent of a third world tinpot dictatorship I once visited. I know that given the record of the last Labour administration and frankly the unfair way they charged residents in Chiswick more to park, you may fear some kind of backlash. Let`s hope our new Local Politicians do not think in such childish terms.

Robert Ayres ● 6991d

It is highly unlikely that 'flexible employment practises' - which in reality mean more regulation and red tape for smaller businesses - would raise the working population to a significant enough degree. Scandanavian countries have them yet their birth rate is lower than ours. I agree that people should be encouraged to have more children if they can support them. Tax breaks for child care costs would be more effective

Mike Hardacre ● 6991d

Which is a damned good reason for our society being more family friendly so that couples can have the children they want and have flexible enough employment practices, so that family and work can be easier rather than the constant juggling act it is now. More children means more people working - means a healthier economy - means more tax being paid for services.

Vanessa Smith ● 6991d

There was a major debate on the issue of whether the move might damage the residents. I spoke on this issue myself to the Labour Group, using the information that people like you and Yvonne had provided. It was understood and strongly considered. I understand that the Social Services team were made to consult with the best experts and that they put the recommended protocols for moving residents in place. I think they may have consulted the Professor Jessup???? (not sure of the name) who was the leading expert in this area. I know little more after that.

Alan Sheerins ● 6991d

Hi GarethGood to hear from you again, I am not sure if the type of care will be like for like. I understand that residents will essentially have their own flats, with some shared facilities and on site care an support. The Labour Government has vastly increased the amount of money going into social housing and care, this is a fact, Ann keen has lobbied for this and voted in favour of those budgets that delivered that extra money in the House of Commons. I understand that the new development is being undertaken by a specialist housing organisation called Housing 21 and is funded by government grant.

Alan Sheerins ● 6991d

Well obviously these people deserve good care even the ones who might not have paid a lot of tax or made a contribution to society. The problem is there are going to be two or three older people for every worker in the future and there has to be a balance between how much we take from that worker and the quality of care given to the old. If we tax too much then the economy would go into a tailspin and there would be even less money available for care of the elderly.

Mike Hardacre ● 6991d

A very good point Gareth,also a lot of these elderly people began their working lives at the ages of thirteen and fourteen.

Paul Fisher ● 6991d

Mike Reference to "What about that this would be prohibitively expensive and crush the economy under a massive tax burden?"What about the contribution these now elderly people have made to society over their many years and the tax that they have paid? Don't they deserve care now that they need it most?

Gareth Evans ● 6991d

Whether you have private or NHS provision, pay your workers alot or a little the expense of care of the elderly will be expensive simply because of the demographics - fewer working tax payers and more dependent old people. Either tax has to go up or care has to fall. The care of a bed-ridden elderly relative is a full time plus job with no holidays so it is unreasonable to expect most families to take care of their own once they have reached that point. I know some people who have tried to do it but ending up having to admit that it was impossible and resorted to a home.This is however something of a distraction from the original discussion which was about the apparent 'evils' of a Chiswick dominated executive. On parking charges nobody seems to have pointed out that it wasn't just Chiswick that paid a higher level - Brentford also paid a premium with, surprise surprise Hounslow getting the cheapest rate. The simple solution must be to cut Chiswick's rates, raise Hounslow's and leave Brentford's where they are.

Mike Hardacre ● 6992d

Does it have to be so expensive? I wonder when you see the way some of these "homes" are run and the appalling wages that some staff are paid I do wonder, after all the owners don't run them for the benefit of their health - it's known as making a profit. There is also the point that families should take some responsibility wherever possible, we do tend to think everything is someone-elses problem these days, it is difficult as I know but if you can't help your own what sort of human being are you?

Vanessa Smith ● 6992d

"There are NO excuses for not giving our elderly the best money can buy"What about that this would be prohibitively expensive and crush the economy under a massive tax burden? The sad fact that we all have to face up to is that the population profile means that if anything care for the elderly is going to get worse because there are fewer younger people to support us. Lots of hard decisions will need to be made in the future and I don't envy the people who have to make them.

Mike Hardacre ● 6992d

Report in today's Mirror says that the death rate among elderly people doubles if they have to switch care homes. There are NO excuses for not giving our elderly the best money can buy and if you cannot or will not support them then as a local poitician you should do the decent thing and resign, not sit on that bloody fence by abstaining when it comes to making a decision.

Vanessa Smith ● 6992d

Alan Reference " One of the main objection at the time was that moving elderly frail people from care homes can (if not done in a proper way) hasten their deaths."Any idea of the effect the move had on these vulnerable people or indeed, how many are still alive today? I very much doubt that any of the councillors who voted for closure, or those who abstained, have given the effects of the closure on these elderly people any consideration whatsoever. Vanessa is right, shame on those councillors. I'm just glad that many have not been re-elected.

Gareth Evans ● 6992d

Alan In respect of "And there will be an excellent replacement for John Aird House thanks to a Labour Council and Government, contractors are on site now." Are you saying that the services once provided by John Aird House are to be continued on a like for like basis? I doubt it but I await your update. I don't recall Mrs Keen campaining to keep John Aird House open, much like many of the Labour councillors but then again many were not returned. Possibly an omen for Mrs Keen?

Gareth Evans ● 6992d

AndrewYes, one or two Labour councillors did abstain. So much for Labour's committment to the elderly and vulnerable.

Gareth Evans ● 6992d

I was'nt there for the election of the executive.

Alan Sheerins ● 6997d

Very well put Vanessa if I may say so? Even a week or so before the last election at a hustings in Brentford,the then Syon Cllr Val Lamey was positively proud that she had not voted for its closure but omitted the fact that she had in fact abstained.Cllr Edwards also had a sudden change of mind after pledging his support once he was put under pressure by the then Labour Whip.Despite our many differences Vanessa,I do recall that you took a stand to try and keep the Isleworth Day Centre open and you still have my respect for that.

Paul Fisher ● 6997d

There is no doubting though Alan whatever you say this whole thing was handled appallingly and the behaviour of some Labour Councillors left one hell of a lot to be desired. These actions do stick in people's minds and you do pay at the ballot box.

Vanessa Smith ● 6997d

Fair enough.However, when Alan first posted his account of proceedings (possibly influenced by this morning's report in the Chronicle) certain alarm bells began to ring.  At first I remained quiet because I thought that maybe my memory was playing tricks.  However this evening I spoke to several others who confirmed my recollection of events - that the vote didn't actually take place and the Executive was in fact elected nem con.  Nobody abstained.  Indeed, the Labour Group which has made such an issue out of the ICG's alleged hidden agenda which is apparently to be unveiled as soon as we reach positions of power didn't even oppose the election of Councillor Hibbs and myself to the the local authority's ruling Executive.  Oh dear.The webcast of the meeting is still unavailable as I write, but hopefully it will bear out this version of events.Where, then, did the Chronicle get its story from about the pattern of voting, which I believe is how it is likely to have gone if the vote had actually taken place?

Phil Andrews ● 6997d

There was a big row about the closure of John Aird House (in Brentford) an few years ago. The Council at the time did not feel that the House was fit for use (It did have structural problems, and many of the rooms were not suitable). One of the main objection at the time was that moving elderly frail people from care homes can (if not done in a proper way) hasten their deaths. I myself campaigned against closure in and outside the Labour Party. As you would expect an issue like this received lots of attention from the opposition Parties at the time. The Labour Party was split down the middle over it, and a vote at Labour Group was narrowly in favour of closure. At a subsequent Council meeting the closure was confirmed. One good effect of the campaign was that the correct protocols for moving residents were put in place and I do not believe that anyone suffered adversely from the closure. We will now have a new and more versatile care facility for local elderly people.

Alan Sheerins ● 6997d

"And there will be an excellent replacement for John Aird House thanks to a Labour Council and Government, contractors are on site now."Anyone prepared to deliver a potted history to explain this?  I am interested but completely lost.

Sarah Felstead ● 6997d

And there will be an excellent replacement for John Aird House thanks to a Labour Council and Government, contractors are on site now.

Alan Sheerins ● 6997d

Yes,to their everlasting shame.

Vanessa Smith ● 6998d

NO never, I do not believe in abstaining, what's the point of it? Yes it's true John abstained for reasons of his own but it is not a course which I would take, but I do know he didn't do it for any personal gain, because he has more guts and intelligence than most.

Vanessa Smith ● 6998d

Didn't one or two Labour councillors abstain over John Ayred House resulting in it's eventual closure?

Andrew Sibley ● 6998d

JimNot at all I love Brentford, it is in much better shape now than it was when I first came here nearly 20 years ago. It seems to me that a lot more people are proud of it as a place to live and I do not see a decline in Civic pride. I like most of west London in fact and Chiswick in particular. I hope that the Council does very well and can provide services at least as well as the Labour administration did. However I just think that they will find it very hard to deliver their cost cutting agenda and retain the high quality services that we have had up until now.

Alan Sheerins ● 6998d

Returning to the question of parking charges, I do not think it can be argued that uniform charges across the borough are equitable. If this were the case residents living in the many parts of the borough that do not have controlled parking zones would be forced to pay for on street parking. It makes good political propaganda do claim that local parking charges are unfair. However, controlled parking schemes have developed in response to pressures on road space, and parking charges should reflect the need to ration and control space.In Central Hounslow, where the first controlled parking schemes were introduced over a decade ago, the main pressure for controlled parking came from residents overwhelmed by commuter parking, either at the tube stations or for local shopping. If you visit many parts of the central area during daytime you will find that on street parking is usually available. The problem is greatest in streets of terraced housing with no off-street parking availability. Many residents have avoided paying for permits by having crossovers installed and parking in their front gardens. New developments such as Key Site 1 (over 400 units) will have no access to on street permits, meaning that prospective residents will have to consider public transport options. There are problem areas, but in general there is sufficient on street parking to meet resident demand in the evening.Those more knowledgeable about the Chiswick situation should be able to advise on the current position. Personally, I would not drive to central Chiswick during the daytime as I find it very difficult to access on street parking for any period of time and therefore opt for public transport. I always drive into Hounslow.Parking meter charges should also reflect demand. In Hounslow some meters have been taken out of commission due to lack of use. Off Kensington High Street there is a shortage of meters despite the fact that they neeed to be fed like one armed bandits.Parking and traffic issues are emotive and should be addressed in a rational and considered manner otherwise the wrong decisions will be arrived at.Enforcement of policies is important, if only to protect the law abiding majority from those to ignorant or lazy to obey the reguulations.

John Connelly ● 6998d

And to think that quite recently people were complaining that this forum is politically apathetic!

James de Vivenot ● 6998d

ConalMy question to Vanessa was just that - a question.  I didn't abstain, so I'm not having to defend myself on this.Out of curiosity, which way do you think the Lib Dems ought to have voted?

Phil Andrews ● 6998d

I think its wrong to abstain in your very first council meeting when you were elected to take part in council votes on your residents behalf.

Conal Stewart ● 6998d

Perhaps he didn't want a return to a rotten Labour administration. What do you think?

The Pseudometer ● 6998d

I don't think its appropriate on matters like this myself.  I voted for Andrew Dakers and I can't say I'm happy with his absention.  I'm sure he can explain in his own time its just that it seems to appear as Vanessa  says a bit cowardly.  And I think Vanessa makes a reasonable point.

Conal Stewart ● 6998d

VanessaThe Lib Dems can answer for themselves, but have you never abstained from a vote?  One of your own colleagues (presuming you are still with the HIA) abstained on more or less every count, and he is not a man with a reputation for cowardice or indecision.  Do you not believe that there are sometimes circumstances in which absention can be an appropriate course of action?

Phil Andrews ● 6998d

The Lib-Dems planned to abstain well in advance of the Council meeting - personally I think it's shameful and cowardly - if you stand for election you should play your full part - not sit on the fence. Still sitting on the well worn fence captured Andrew Dakers the place he wanted on West London Waste, personal interests therefore satisfied. I do wonder if now they have control the Tories will be so attached to the thought of Chiswick leaving Hounslow? As far as the parking is concerned many hostages to fortune were given, now comes the day of delivery, but at what cost?

Vanessa Smith ● 6998d

"They [Chiswick] have far higher levels of car ownership WE ALL KNOW THAT"Apart from the people who take the trouble to check the national statistics database on this. The three Chiswick wards have some of the lowest levels of car ownership in the borough with Turnham Green I recall being the lowest. If you are suggesting that charges should be based on levels of car ownership in an area then this would be popular in Chiswick."Stands to reason that car parking issues for residents are more problematic in Chiswick and they need to be more closely managed and controlled.  This means it costs more"Why is it that when someone starts a sentence with 'Stands to reason' you know they are about to come out with absolute nonsense. 'Closely managing and controlling' Chiswick parking is a hugely profitable business for the council and the get 75% of their parking revenue from this area. The smaller more isolated CPZs are much more expensive to police because they yield a much lower level of fines."They also have far higher levels of houses in multiple occupancy"Says who?"Given that Chiswick residents have greater access to public transport the whinging of anyone or Councillor  from Chiswick that they should pay the same as the rest of us is just downright ludicrous. "It took me several months of badgering Council and TfL officials before they were willing to publish the so-called PALs scores for public transport provision across the borough. This independent measure showed that Chiswick did not score particularly well in a borough context as regards public transport.The fact is that it has long been recognised that parking policy in the borough was unfair. When CPZs were first implemented in Chiswick the rate was set high ostensibly because there was a huge deficit in the parking fund. The real reason was revealed at a Council meeting when a Labour Councillor said that 'those rich bastards can afford it'. When Adrian Lee talks about hating Hounslow he is not talking about the town or the people but the cabal who used to run the borough and made discrimination against Chiswick a cornerstone of their policy. In recent years things had got better and some effort had been made to put this right with reductions in the charge. Cllr. Cadbury described the differential as unjustified. Part of the reason for the overwhelming majority of the Conservative Councillors in Chiswick was this policy and if they don't follow through on their election pledges on this issue they know that their honeymoon period would come to an abrupt end.

Justin Harris ● 6998d

""Given that Tory Executive Member Adrian Lee has been widely reported as hating Hounslow (meaning all parts of the Borough that are not Chiswick)""If you'd lived in the Borough as long as I have..and seen the decline in Civic Pride..some awful property developements and practices...awful sites and sights...observed the bomb sites in Brentford ..even along the Great West Road...seen and heard the goings on at the Civic Centre and on Hounslow streets...you too would have many times heard the view of Cllr Adrian Lee expressed. I hear many people say that they love Chiswick. But I hear many more people say that they hate Hounslow. Now there are reasons to be more proud and optimistic. Hopefully you will support that aspiration and not be a spanner in the works. Secretly, I imagine that you are excited at the prospects and battles ahead!

Jim Lawes ● 6998d

Run along and read your Daily Telegraph Colin.  Thats about all your brain can cope with.

Conal Stewart ● 6998d

Green is so your colour.

The Pseudometer ● 6998d

How can the Tories question this? Are they really that foolish and do you really think its fair to help them on this? They have far higher levels of car ownership WE ALL KNOW THAT.  They also have far higher levels of houses in multiple occupancy.  Stands to reason that car parking issues for residents are more problematic in Chiswick and they need to be more closely managed and controlled.  This means it costs more.  Can you please tell me why we should all pay the same?  Seems very odd for someone from Isleworth to suggest that its fair for us all to pay anything like the same as Chiswick residents.Given that Chiswick residents have greater access to public transport the whinging of anyone or Councillor  from Chiswick that they should pay the same as the rest of us is just downright ludicrous.

Conal Stewart ● 6998d

I know the Conservatives would question the assertion that there is more pressure on parking in Chiswick.  In principle I see nothing wrong with making charges more equitable, but would obviously want to protect services in Isleworth and Syon which our councillors have been elected to represent.My argument has always been for a greener approach to parking charges which could be levied according to engine size rather than to geographical location.  Such a system may itself hit Chiswick harder than other areas, of course, but would at least be less discriminatory.With regard to the new administration itself there will of course be issues to sort out, but to date I have found our partners honest and upfront about their intentions.  Some have tried to persuade me that I am being naive, but I tend to judge a book by its cover and to cross bridges when I reach them.

Phil Andrews ● 6998d

I'm sure most people in Chiswick would plainly love local goverment reorganisation to bung them into Hammersmith or Ealing so they can lose Brentford and Hounslow.Why the hell should I have (or any of us) have services cut in Brentford in order to satisfy Tory Chiswick greed?  The bottom line with the parking is that it is entirely justifiable that they cough up more cash for a more resource hungry area to manage.If Phil and the ICG don't take a strong line on that issue they are not standing by their residents.  I'll be watching how the Lib Dems take a stand on this.

Conal Stewart ● 6998d

Given that Tory Executive Member Adrian Lee has been widely reported as hating Hounslow (meaning all parts of the Borough that are not Chiswick) I think it will be bad for Brentford, The planned reductions in Council Tax for the wealthier areas will have a knock on effect on services to the most vulnerable in places like Brentford and Isleworth.

Alan Sheerins ● 6998d