Hounslow Council emergency meeting called to avoid legal breach

Hounslow Council has been compelled to convene an extraordinary meeting on October 21 to prevent a breach of national legislation. This urgent session is a direct consequence of procedural irregularities during the full council meeting on September 15, which jeopardised the timely implementation of legally mandated planning changes.

Procedural Breakdown Leads to Legal Risk

At the September 15 meeting, the Labour administration presented a report that merged controversial constitutional reforms with essential planning updates. The council's rules stipulate that any motion altering procedural rules must be adjourned until the subsequent meeting. Councillor Theo Dennison raised a point of order concerning the adjournment of the report, which the Mayor accepted. This procedural step meant the report, including the vital planning changes, was deferred.

The deferral created a significant legal challenge. The next scheduled council meeting was not until November 24, well after the October 31 deadline for implementing the planning changes. This timeline meant the council would have been in violation of national law had the extraordinary meeting not been called. Opposition councillors described the initial bundling of constitutional and planning matters as an attempt to force through contentious changes.

Later in the same meeting, Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, the council leader, attempted to reintroduce the report. However, council rules prohibit such a move. The Deputy Monitoring Officer had previously advised that while the planning aspect was legally mandatory, its inclusion in a vote with constitutional changes caused confusion. The subsequent vote was declared null and void due to procedural violations, meaning the required planning changes had not been approved.

Consequences and Reactions

Councillor Theo Dennison stated that the council agreed to the extraordinary meeting only after the threat of judicial review. He described the special meeting as an admission that the September 15 decisions were unlawful. He also noted that the national planning changes reduce the influence of local councillors and residents. The meeting will also address proportionality following Councillor Athwal's suspension.

Councillor Athwal faces charges of fraud by abuse of position and is scheduled to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on October 27. He denies all charges. Councillor Jack Emsley, Leader of the Hounslow Conservatives, criticised the council leadership, stating the extraordinary meeting could have been avoided if not for "party political games." He estimated the cost to taxpayers could be tens of thousands of pounds.

A spokesperson for Hounslow Council defended the decision to combine constitutional and legislative changes, calling it "appropriate" and stating that reports are reviewed by legal officers. The council acknowledged additional costs for the extraordinary meeting but stated they would not be in the thousands, as claimed by the Conservatives. Councillor Rajawat countered that Councillor Dennison's actions were responsible for wasting council time and resources.

What Happens Next

The extraordinary council meeting is scheduled for October 21. The primary agenda item will be the implementation of the legally required planning changes. The meeting will also discuss proportionality on council committees following recent events.