Chiswick Area Forum to Focus on Local Finances
Council leader to address meeting on borough's budget
Chiswick councillors at a previous area forum. Picture: Yagnesh Nakarja/LBH
January 11, 2026
The next Chiswick Area Forum will take place on Monday 19 January at Chiswick Town Hall, with residents invited to hear updates on local finances, community initiatives and long-running neighbourhood concerns. The formal meeting, chaired by Chiswick Homefields councillor Jack Emsley, begins at 7.30pm, following an hour of informal networking where residents can speak directly with council officers, ward councillors and local groups.
The meeting will open with a presentation from the Riana Development Network Charity, a youth organisation based in Edensor Gardens that supports disadvantaged young people in Chiswick. Councillors will then receive an update from the Leader of Hounslow Council and the borough’s finance officer on the state of Hounslow’s finances, including early projections for the coming year’s budget. This financial briefing was once a regular feature of Area Forums and is being reinstated in Chiswick to give residents the opportunity to question the council about spending, the management of the Lampton Group, and the potential impact on council tax and frontline services.
The latest Issue Tracking Sheet, will be considered. One of the most persistent issues remains the enforcement of abandoned e-bikes. Although Lime bikes no longer operate in the borough, councillors report that abandoned e-bikes from other operators continue to cause problems. The council has previously met with operators to push for more proactive collection, and the matter remains under active monitoring.
Another long-running concern is the performance of the FixMyStreet reporting system. Councillors have repeatedly raised problems with excessive notifications, unclear “closed” messages and inconsistent communication about how issues are resolved. Hounslow Highways has met with the app’s developers and committed to improving staff training, but the issue remains unresolved and stays on the tracker.
Parking also continues to feature prominently. Residents have asked for contactless card parking machines, and councillors have been investigating the related issue of the 15p charge applied when drivers opt to receive text alerts about expiring parking sessions. The matter remains open while councillors seek clearer communication for residents.
Transport accessibility is another area of focus. The long-standing campaign for the Piccadilly line to stop regularly at Turnham Green and for the installation of a lift at the station has been added to the tracker. TfL has now placed Turnham Green on its list for review for step-free access, and councillors intend to monitor progress.
Waste and recycling issues also feature. Concerns about recycling collections from flats above shops remain under review, with councillors urging residents to respond to the council’s ongoing consultation. While collections are reportedly taking place on time, councillors have stressed the need for operatives to fully empty bins to prevent waste build-up and associated hygiene problems.
Other items currently being monitored include planning and mitigation work for Gunnersbury Park events, maintenance and operational issues relating to Hounslow Highways, the condition and future of the Chiswick House & Gardens Conservatory, and resident concerns about the Chiswick Village penthouse development, particularly around communication and compliance with planning and safety regulations
The evening will conclude with an Open Forum, giving residents the chance to raise local concerns directly with Chiswick’s nine councillors. The session is expected to begin at around 9pm and will run for approximately 20 minutes.
Councillor Emsley said he was looking forward to “hearing from a fantastic local charity and having the opportunity to quiz the council on the state of the borough’s finances,” adding his thanks to Chiswick Town Hall for hosting the event.
The meeting will be recorded and published on the council’s YouTube channel afterwards.
The date of next meeting Is scheduled for Tuesday 17 March.
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