MP’s UPDATE FOR RESIDENTS
February 2022
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I am happy to meet constituents either by phone, or on-line, to discuss your concerns. Please email me on [email protected] with your address, a quick summary of the issue and relevant reference numbers.
See my Coronavirus Web-page for information on local and national services, helplines and volunteering; and to sign up for Hounslow Council’s daily updates.
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Unsurprisingly Ukraine has overshadowed Parliament’s business as well as my “postbag” in February’s final week. Putin’s actions are unprovoked and unjustifiable and will have a lasting impact not only on the Ukrainian people, but on much of the world. Keir Starmer and our front bench have demanded that the Government match the EU and US and bring in the toughest sanctions on Putin’s friends and their UK-based property and wealth, as well as ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches the people of Ukraine as well as those who have fled to surrounding countries. The Government needs to live up to our proud
history of accepting refugees and offer sanctuary to Ukrainians
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Hounslow Council: I was saddened that Steve Curran has decided not to stand as a Councillor in May, but understand that he needs to focus on his health and the treatment he will be having over the next few months. As a result of Steve’s leadership Hounslow was justifiably awarded the national Council of the Year by the Local Government Chronicle. Despite the multiple pressures and funding cuts, Hounslow delivers services well, and was particularly praised for the way help and support went to the most vulnerable, and also to local businesses during the height of the Covid pandemic. Steve will be a hard
act to follow!
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Fire Safety and Leaseholders: For over four years constituents in blocks of flats have been contacting me about the impact on them from the fire-safety crisis that the Grenfell fire exposed. Having spoken many times in Parliament and sat on the Building Safety Bill Committee I have lost count of the times Ministers said that leaseholders wouldn’t pay, but yet nothing changed for those who are not responsible for the crisis. I visited a group of concerned leaseholders at Grove House in Isleworth (pictured) with Councillors Tony Louki and Unsa Chaudri to hear about their concerns.
Finally, new Housing Secretary of State, Michael Gove announced new regulations to make the leaseholders the last resort to pay for necessary repairs, not the first. The charity, Leasehold Knowledge Partnership have done a useful guide to the new regulations where they suggest that the proposed changes raise more questions than they answer.
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TfL Settlement: The Government is still dragging its feet in offering Transport for London a fair funding deal. This is needed so our Tube and bus services are retained at normal levels in the short term, as well as capital funding for much needed improvements such as the Piccadilly trains stopping at Turnham Green and more step-free access. I have written to Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport on behalf of this constituency, demanding a fair settlement.
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During Children’s Mental Health Week I learned so much from local young people and the professionals who work with them, messages which I then brought into my speech on Children’s Mental Health. I was inspired by the trained 6th form Mental Health Ambassadors at Gunnersbury School, and I also saw what St Mary’s Primary in Chiswick and St Mary’s Primary in Isleworth were doing to make talking about mental health easier. Hounslow Youth Counselling Service, and the team of our local NHS Child and Adult Mental Health Service (CAMHS) told me about how stretched their services are. For children with
greater needs there are not enough skilled professionals to deliver their services to the increasing numbers of very ill children, nor are there enough specialist inpatient beds in London for young people.
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MY PARLIAMENTARY ACTIVITY in FEBRUARY
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You can see full details of my questions and speeches in Parliament, and get regular updates about my Parliamentary activities TheyWorkForYou (votes) in Hansard (speeches) and on YouTube
At Ministerial questions about Levelling Up, I urged Michael Gove to tackle inequality within communities as well as between UK regions. 40% of children living in Hounslow are in poverty- despite the fact that West London as a whole is one of the most prosperous economic sub regions of the UK. Conservative policies such as cuts to Sure Start centres, cuts in Universal Credit and the bedroom tax have fuelled this rise in child poverty.
At Home Office Questions I mentioned two senior police officers who worked locally who were recently sacked for gross misconduct. The IOPC report into the conduct of Met Police officers was damning, and showed shocking examples of sexist and misogynistic behaviour from police officers right up to senior levels.
In the Energy debate I called for a windfall tax on the energy companies and rebuked the Chancellor for calling the new loans a “rebate”.
At Transport questions I pushed the Secretary of State to publish the long overdue review of the Cycling and Walking Strategy
I spoke in a debate about exempt accommodation – where vulnerable people are dumped in private bedsits, their rent not subject to the benefit cap because the landlord is supposed to be providing additional support services. With the exception of charities such as LookAhead, there is a racket where private landlords are taking the money but providing next to no support. I demanded the Government address the lack of oversight and regulation.
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With fellow Labour Trade Team member Gareth Thomas – I visited the UK’s biggest port by value – Heathrow! It was interesting and useful to have a look around the cargo area, and also one of Dnata’s huge warehouses.
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COMMUNITY UPDATE – FEBRUARY
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Policing: In the five years that Cressida Dick was London’s policing chief, too many have lost faith in the Met. Charing Cross station wasn’t the only example of racism, misogyny and bullying, and a serving officer with history murdered Sarah Everard. There have been too many examples of incompetence, young people fear being stopped & searched for no reason and most rape crimes go unpunished. In many aspects of modern policing other forces are doing better than the Met, while under Dick things were going backwards. I was not sorry that Cressida Dick has resigned.
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On the other hand, I have met and worked with many good, committed and understanding officers and look forward to working with our new BCU Commander, Chief Supt Sean Wilson, who I had a useful meeting with this month.
I was pleased to be at the launch of the long-promised dedicated team for Hounslow Town Centre which will focus on the High Street and immediate areas. I hope this new force will ensure people feel safe visiting the High Street and that local residents see an improvement in anti-social behavoiur.
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West London Business Awards: It was a pleasure to attend the annual ceremony and present the Creative/Media business of the year award with Annabel Croft. Alliance Dance Unit, featuring many Hounslow children, provided the entertainment.
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The Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha is Hounslow’s largest Sikh place of worship. Seema Malhotra and I met the Trustees as they are concerned the planning application for the Special School and housing on the vacant site next door will have an impact on their ceremonial area. I am also concerned about the way the proposed flats overlook the proposed school which will be for children with special needs.
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Chiswick Low Traffic Neighbourhood: I have had many emails raising concerns about the latest changes to the south Chiswick LTN – so I met Cllr Hanif Khan to discuss possible alternative ways to stop the long-distance rat-running through the area without making life more difficult for residents, both those who own, and those who don’t own a car.
I've written to South Western Rail to raise a number of concerns that local residents have raised with me recently about the poor services on the Hounslow line. Service frequency is still not back at pre-pandemic levels, communication with passengers is poor, and we experience poor reliability and overcrowding.
Citizens Advice: I met Aiman and Annalisa from Hounslow CAB: Despite extra funding from Hounslow Council they can still only help half those who approach them, such is the rise in demand, with benefit & debt issues dominating the demand for their services. This rapid growth is a direct result of Government policies that are leading to growing levels of poverty in the country.
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Hounslow Swimming Club provide lessons and competition training for local children, disabled children and women-only groups and their charges are half those of other swimming clubs using Hounslow pools. However the club needs more pool time to provide for the demand, especially for the under-represented groups they see the demand for. It appears that much pool-time is booked out to clubs without a local connection. I have raised the club’s concerns with Hounslow Cabinet members to seek a resolution.
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KEEPING IN TOUCH
Twitter: @RuthCadbury Web: www.ruthcadbury.org.uk Facebook: “ RuthCadburyMP”
Casework: for issues to raise with me as your MP, please contact my office: [email protected]
Tel: 020 8581 3646 or write: Ruth Cadbury MP, House of Commons, SW1A 0AA.
Diary: I welcome the opportunity to attend community events to hear your views about issues affecting the area, or to meet different groups in our community. Please do get in touch with by emailing [email protected] or phone 020 7219 8590
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Printed from an email sent by Ruth Cadbury MP 367 Chiswick High Road
London, LON W4 4AG
United Kingdom
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