Forum Topic

Isleworth Public Hall- A Valuable Community Asset

PR 2578 11 September 2013For Immediate ReleaseCouncil seeks proposals over future of Isleworth Public Hall Hounslow Council has invited interested parties to submit proposals on the future management of Isleworth Public Hall.Councillor Ajmer Grewal, cabinet member for leisure and public health, said: “Isleworth Public Hall is a much loved and valuable community asset.“We have had some interest in making better use of the hall and in its future management, which is why we are going out to the community seeking proposals from interested parties.“I want residents or community groups to get involved and make their views known over the future management of Isleworth Public Hall.”                                     Any organisations or person wishing to submit proposals on the future management of the hall should register at procurement@hounslow.gov.uk and title the e-mail ‘Submission of proposals for IPH’. An application form will be sent electronically to you within two working days. The closing date for receipt of submissions is 4pm on Friday 4th October 2013.  Cllr Grewal added: “No decision on the future of the hall will be made until we have carefully considered all submissions.” For more information click on to www.hounslow.gov.uk/isleworthpublichall Notes for editors:Two open days for parties interested in submitting proposals and who wish to view the building and ask any questions, have been arranged at Isleworth Public Hall. These dates are Tuesday, 17 September, from 1pm to 7pm and Thursday, 19 September, from 9am to 2pm.

John Todd ● 4527d27 Comments

"The Isleworth councillors may be first-termers, but they are intelligent people.  Two of them sit on the Cabinet."I think we need to look holistically at the actions of the Lead Member (I assume we are speaking here about Councillor Steve Curran, who seems to be Lead Member for almost everything), and in particular his treatment of the Hounslow Federation of Tenants' and Residents' Associations and of the G15+ group of residents.  What is happening here in fact is a broad-front assault on any manifestation of independent community activity, with a view to replacing it permanently with something more malleable and obsequious.  It is a long-term strategy which looks beyond the forthcoming election and possibly as far as the subsequent one, when political conditions may well be less favourable to the present administration than they are right now.  What better way to minimise the prospect of scrutiny and challenge from the community than to change the very nature of the community?"First - I'm not sure that the fact that two councillors sit on the Cabinet necessarily equals intelligence.Secondly I think you give another first timer far too much credit for acting of his own volition, a first timer with all those responsibilities  - oh please! It's nonsense.I don't care who you are or how clever you may be - when you get elected it takes time to understand how things work, who is who and what is what, as you will know. "Of course, I may be reading far too much into things so possibly somebody more sensible could explain the logic involved in our ward councillors not raising a murmur of protest."You possibly are reading too much into things - but I'm buggered if I can explain any logic in this whole very disgraceful episode. I can't explain it - because to my way of thinking there is no logic.

Vanessa Smith ● 4518d

I know I get called a conspiracy theorist at times but I am doubtful that this is a purely officer initiative.The Isleworth councillors may be first-termers, but they are intelligent people.  Two of them sit on the Cabinet.  They are well aware that they are months away from an election and that their ward has a particularly active community culture.Under the circumstances I just don't believe they would be cowed into silence while officers set about upsetting a significant portion of their ward's electorate.  As I see it their acquiescence in this project must logically have its foundation in some kind of political strategy.  So what is it?I think we need to look holistically at the actions of the Lead Member (I assume we are speaking here about Councillor Steve Curran, who seems to be Lead Member for almost everything), and in particular his treatment of the Hounslow Federation of Tenants' and Residents' Associations and of the G15+ group of residents.  What is happening here in fact is a broad-front assault on any manifestation of independent community activity, with a view to replacing it permanently with something more malleable and obsequious.  It is a long-term strategy which looks beyond the forthcoming election and possibly as far as the subsequent one, when political conditions may well be less favourable to the present administration than they are right now.  What better way to minimise the prospect of scrutiny and challenge from the community than to change the very nature of the community?Of course, I may be reading far too much into things so possibly somebody more sensible could explain the logic involved in our ward councillors not raising a murmur of protest.

Phil Andrews ● 4518d