HMOs, Ruislip Lido, and Hillingdon Council’s enforcement capacity were key topics at the Ruislip Residents’ Association meeting

Thank you to the 130 residents who joined us on Wednesday 25th March, for the our Annual General Meeting. This year, the Association experimented with rotating meeting locations to ensure we serve all parts of the community, holding the event at St Paul’s Church in Ruislip Manor.

Because we had a packed agenda, we want to provide a brief summary of the evening’s main discussions. The full draft minutes are available to read at the bottom of this page.

Guest Speaker: Danny Beales MP

As planned, the first portion of the evening was dedicated to our guest speaker, Danny Beales, MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip. During his address and Q&A, he specifically responded to the four pre-submitted questions from residents, alongside providing updates on community healthcare and school budgets:

• Council Finances & the £150m EFS Bailout: Regarding the Council’s £150m emergency bailout loan (which prevented ‘bankruptcy’), residents sought transparency on the “strings attached”.  Mr. Beales clarified that while government conditions are currently confidential, the Council can voluntarily publish them if it chooses.  An independent CIPFA governance review, ordered by the government following concerns expressed by the Council’s external auditors, will be made public this summer.
• Hillingdon Hospital: Construction of the new hospital is expected to commence in the 2027/28 financial year. The updated design will meet “Hospital 2.0” standards, featuring single patient rooms.
• Wealdstone FC: Addressing rumours regarding the football club, he confirmed that a 10-year lease has been signed for the current ground, securing their place in the league. Regarding a potential new stadium at the Master Brewer site, he noted this is a matter between the club and the Council, and he has been told no documents currently exist.
• Renters’ Reform & HMOs: Mr. Beales clarified that the upcoming end of “no-fault” evictions under the Renters’ Rights Act will still apply to HMOs. Therefore, the new laws should not inadvertently incentivise landlords to convert family properties into HMOs simply to bypass the restrictions.
• Healthcare & SEND: He also highlighted that Hillingdon is a pilot site for community-based health hubs , and announced that the government will wipe out most of the local authority’s “safety valve” debt to protect school budgets. 

Association Business & Community Cohesion

During the formal AGM proceedings, Treasurer Nick Potter reported that the Association achieved a small surplus for the year. Members accepted the annual accounts , and the existing committee members and officers, including Chairman Graham Bartram, were re-elected en bloc.

Chairman Graham Bartram also delivered a poignant community cohesion address, drawing on his childhood in Belfast during the Troubles to warn against sectarianism.  As the UK’s Chief Vexillologist, he noted that the Council’s 85th anniversary banners for the Battle of Britain incorrectly suggested the battle was won by the British Army rather than the RAF.  He stated that the proliferation of flags on local lampposts appeared intended to intimidate rather than celebrate the community.  He concluded with an appeal to residents and politicians to work toward a more equitable and peaceful relationship between all sections of Ruislip.

Open Forum: Ruislip Lido and HMOs

We received a substantial list of excellent questions submitted in advance of the meeting. With the guest speaker’s talk and questions concluding the first half of the evening as scheduled, the Open Forum with Ward Councillors Douglas Mills, Susan O’Brien, and John Riley naturally centered on two of the most pressing local concerns – the Lido and HMOs.

• Ruislip Lido Safety: Following up on the long-delayed Ruislip Lido risk assessment – first promised by the Leader of the Council at our AGM in April 2025 and heavily scrutinized following last summer’s emergency access issues  – Councillor Riley stated that an external specialist organisation is finally expected to report its findings “in the next few days”.

  Residents expressed frustration at the ongoing delays just as the Easter peak season arrives, especially after discovering late last year that the original assessment processes had stalled.

  They also questioned whether the Council has lost the internal safety expertise to conduct these assessments themselves without relying on external consultants.

  Councillor Riley appeared to walk back previous commitments for a community review of the document, stating that public consultation will now “depend on what the risk assessment talks about”.

  The Lido discussion also included a passionate debate regarding the strict ban on barbecues. Residents highlighted the severe fire risks to the surrounding woods and the lack of active wardens to enforce the ban , while Councillor Riley noted the practical challenges of constantly patrolling the area. 

• Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs): Councillors Mills, O’Brien and Riley discussed the major policy shift that took effect on December 10th, making planning permission mandatory for all new HMOs. Regarding active disputes, such as the situation at 29 Torrington Road, councillors stressed that enforcement action is a long-winded process often met with appeals.

  Councillor O’Brien urged residents to act as the “eyes and ears” of the Council , as it relies heavily on residents to report issues and provide “watertight” witness statements and photographic evidence to build successful cases against rogue landlords. 

While time didn’t allow us to ask most of the pre-submitted questions on the night, we appreciate everyone who took the time to write in.  Our next public meeting will be at 19:45 on Tuesday 6th October at Winston Churchill Hall.

Minutes of the Ruislip Residents’ Association Annual General Meeting 2026

Date: Wednesday 25th March, 2026
Time: 19:45
Location: St Paul’s Church, Ruislip Manor
Attendance: 130

1. Welcome and Apologies

Chairman Graham Bartram opened the meeting, noting that the Association was experimenting with rotating meeting locations to ensure they serve all parts of the community, starting with the Manor.

• Housekeeping: Father Tommy Merry provided fire safety instructions, noted the location of the exits, and confirmed he had extinguished all candles.
  
• Apologies: Received from Cllr Corthorne (Mayoral duties), Cllr Smallwood (family event), and Secretary Pat Wardle (unwell). Phil Taylor, the HS2 representative, also sent apologies. Cllr Riley provided apologies for his late arrival as he was driving back from a funeral in Wales.

2. Guest Speaker: Danny Beales, MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip

Mr. Beales addressed several local and national issues:

• Hillingdon Hospital: Construction is expected to commence in the 2027/28 financial year. The design is being updated to meet “Hospital 2.0” standards, which include single patient rooms.
  
• Health Hubs: Hillingdon is a pilot site for community-based healthcare. Three hubs are planned, with the Pembroke Centre in Ruislip Manor currently beginning this model.
  
• SEND Provision: The government has announced it will wipe out most of the “safety valve” debt held by the local authority to protect school budgets. A further £5 million for Hillingdon SEND provision was specifically announced on the day of the meeting.
  
• Housing and Rent Reform: Discussed the Renters’ Rights Act and the end of “no-fault” evictions. Leasehold reform is also underway, moving toward commonhold for new tenures.
  
• Council Finances: Hillingdon received emergency financial support (EFS) to prevent a Section 114 bankruptcy. While the upcoming CIPFA review of governance will be made public, the specific conditions attached to the EFS remain confidential unless the Council chooses to disclose them.

3. Chairman’s Report and Community Cohesion Address

Graham Bartram reported on local activity, including the successful refusal of a 24-hour bingo hall on Ruislip High Street.

• St Martin’s Approach: The RRA continues to oppose the development of townhouses on the car park. An independent survey commissioned by the RRA debunked Council data, showing the project would cause a 32% reduction in parking spaces vital for shoppers and the Manor Farm heritage site.
  
• Local Issues: The Chairman noted ongoing concerns regarding fly-tipping and the temperamental nature of the Council’s reporting system.
  
• Committee Appreciation: The Chairman extended a “huge thank you” to the committee for their dedicated service over the past year. He expressed particular gratitude to Brian Cowley and Peter Lansdown, the Association’s President and Vice-President respectively, as well as to Secretary Patricia Wardle and Treasurer Nick Potter for their essential contributions to the organization.
  
  He further recognized the specialist work of the Association’s officers, including Graeme Shaw for his dual role as Deputy Chair and Environment Officer, Sue Browne for her work in planning, and Susan Midgley for education. Additional thanks were given to Mark Eidem for police liaison, Carolyn Towner for the Lido, Alan Wenman for RAF Northolt, Phil Taylor for HS2, John Hawley for Manor Retail, John Swindells for IT, and Vivien Alcorn for social activities.
  
  Finally, the Chairman highlighted the work of the “inimitable” Chief Road Steward Daniel O’Neill. He emphasized that the dedication of the network of Area and Road Stewards headed by Mr. O’Neill forms the essential backbone of the Association.

Community Cohesion Speech: The Chairman addressed local community relations, drawing on his childhood in Belfast during the Troubles to warn against sectarianism. As the UK’s Chief Vexillologist, he noted that the Council’s 85th anniversary banners for the Battle of Britain incorrectly suggested the battle was won by the British Army rather than the RAF. He stated that the proliferation of flags on local lampposts appeared intended to intimidate rather than celebrate the community. He concluded with an appeal to residents and politicians to work toward a more equitable and peaceful relationship between all sections of Ruislip.

4. Treasurer’s Report and Annual Accounts

Nick Potter presented the accounts for the year:

• Income: Subscriptions and donations were close to £6,000.
  
• Surplus: The Association achieved a small surplus of £190, with total assets of approximately £19,000.
  
• Approval: The accounts were accepted by the members.

5. Election of Officers and Committee

• Chairman: Graham Bartram was re-elected.
  
• Committee: The existing officers and committee members were re-elected en bloc. The Chairman noted a volunteer’s offer to assist with social media management.

6. Open Forum: Ward Councillors Q&A

The Open Forum was held with Ward Councillors Douglas Mills, Susan O’Brien, and John Riley.

Ruislip Lido Risk Assessment:

Regarding the progress of the Ruislip Lido risk assessment, the following details were provided:

• External Commissioning: Councillor Riley confirmed that the assessment was not being handled internally but had been sent to a specialist external organization.
  
• Imminent Reporting: The expert body is expected to report its findings to the Cabinet Member and Council officers within the next few days.
  
• Operational Meeting: A meeting is scheduled for tomorrow evening between Ward Councillors and the relatively new Cabinet Member responsible for the Lido to establish a management plan for the upcoming season.
  
• Consultation Status: While the Association has pushed for a community review of the findings, Councillor Riley stated that the decision to hold an external consultation will be determined by the specific nature and results of the assessment once received.
  
• Internal Capacity Concerns: In response to the use of external consultants, the Chair questioned whether the Council had lost its internal safety expertise and suggested that a risk assessment should have been within the capability of internal safety officers.

Barbeques at Ruislip Lido

Regarding the safety and management of barbecues at the Lido, the following points were discussed:

• Prohibition and Policy: Councillor Riley confirmed that the use of barbecues is strictly banned at the Lido, categorized alongside the existing prohibition on swimming.
  
• Signage Dispute: While Councillor Riley stated his belief that signs indicating the ban were present in the past , residents and the Chair countered that there is currently no visible signage on-site to inform visitors of the rule.
  
• Enforcement Challenges: Councillor Riley noted that constant patrolling of the area is not considered feasible. However, residents argued that without active policing or wardens, the ban is frequently ignored by visitors from outside the borough who are unfamiliar with local rules.
  
• Fire and Injury Risks: Concerns were raised regarding the high risk of flying embers igniting the surrounding woods during dry periods. Additionally, a resident highlighted the physical danger to the public, citing a specific incident where a child suffered severe burns after stepping on a hot barbecue that had been covered with sand on the beach.
  
• Funding for Oversight: Residents questioned if the revenue generated from parking tickets at the Lido could be utilized to fund a dedicated Ranger or warden to police the beach and grass areas on peak days.

• The “December 10th” Threshold: Councillor Mills detailed the significant policy shift effective from December 10th, after which all new HMOs require mandatory planning permission. This creates a “twilight zone” for properties like 29 Torrington Road, where the Council is actively disputing the managing agent’s claim that occupation began prior to this date.
  
• Evidentiary Requirements for Appeals: Councillors emphasized that any enforcement action will almost certainly be met with an appeal. To avoid the Council paying substantial legal costs, they must present a “watertight” case based on residents’ witness statements and photographic evidence of the exact date the HMO usage commenced.
  
• Legislative and Financial Constraints: Councillor Mills addressed frustrations regarding the speed of action, noting that national legislation favors the applicant and limits the Council’s power to intervene quickly. Furthermore, the £1,500 licensing fee was noted as being set by national legislation rather than local choice.
  
• Enforcement Resources: In response to resident questions about the adequacy of the HMO team, the Councillors committed to investigating the current and planned headcount of enforcement officers.

• Direct Case Intervention: Residents reported severe ongoing issues, including a loft extension at 29 Torrington Road that allegedly encroached over a boundary line. Councillor O’Brien confirmed that a planning enforcement officer had recently visited the site to investigate these specific roof and boundary complaints.
  
• The “Eyes and Ears” Plea: Councillor O’Brien emphasized that residents act as the “eyes and ears” of the community. Both she and Councillor Mills urged residents to continue reporting any suspicious activity, planning breaches, or anti-social behaviour directly to them, even if they are unsure of the legality, to ensure evidence is officially logged.

Meeting Closed: 22:00

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