Agenda item

8.04pm – Councillor Florian Chevoppe-Verdier moved, seconded by Councillor Rebecca Harvey, the special motion in their names:

“This Council recognises the unique character and identity of Uxbridge Road, which is home to a diverse mix of shops and restaurants, a well-attended market, and award-winning cultural venues that serve both residents and visitors from across London.

This Council welcomes the recent petition calling for improvements to the street and resolves to work closely with residents, businesses, cultural venues, and community groups to deliver enhancements that improve safety, cleanliness, and vibrancy while protecting the identity and diversity that make Uxbridge Road a place to be proud of.

This Council notes and resolves to accelerate efforts to improve the road, including decluttering street furniture, deep cleaning pavements, removing graffiti, working with businesses and local artists to improve shopfronts, and encouraging private firms and utilities to act responsibly and remove defunct phone boxes and flyposting. It also welcomes recent business investment on the road.

This Council notes the work of the Law Enforcement Team, who regularly patrol Uxbridge Road to keep it safe, and reaffirms its commitment to an unprecedented investment in producing the UK’s most extensive CCTV network to support the work of the LET and the Metropolitan Police.

This Council notes ongoing planning enforcement actions to address untidy premises and will continue to engage with landlords and businesses to ensure compliance with licensing and planning standards that uplift the street’s appearance, wherever it has the power to do so.

This Council welcomes the feasibility study for a Shepherd’s Bush Business Improvement District, which would be led by local businesses and empower them to further enhance local amenities in a way that complements the unique character of the street’s business offer.”

Speeches on the motion were made by Councillors Chevoppe-Verdier, Lang, Jones, Vaughan, and Mercy Umeh (for the Administration) – and Lloyd-Harris (for the Opposition)

Under Standing Order 16(d)5, Councillor Adrian Pascu-Tulbure moved, seconded by Councillor Jose Afonso, an amendment:

“Delete all after “This Council” and replace with:

“… thanks residents of Hammersmith and Fulham for their recent petition demanding action is taken to “Fix Uxbridge Road: No More Neglect, No More Crime”.

This Council notes that it was under the current Labour administration that the area “visibly deteriorated due to neglected shopfronts, derelict flats above businesses, and inconsistent Council oversight”, which has allowed crime and antisocial behaviour to thrive. This Council further notes that signatories to the petition “have raised these concerns relentlessly over 2.5 years through emails, conversations with Council officers, and community reports. Yet visible change remains minimal”.

This Council regrets that the decline of Uxbridge Road is part of a wider pattern of this Administration’s low expectations for high streets. These low expectations have led to increased crime and antisocial behaviour, a greater number of vacant and dilapidated premises, and a commensurate decline in the visitor experience.

This Council calls on the Administration to take robust action to fix the issues on Uxbridge Road, including through a zero-tolerance approach to drug use, begging, and antisocial behaviour; well-enforced and high-quality design guidelines for shopfronts and targeted incentives to businesses making visual improvements to their premises; and a full-hearted promotion of independent stores that add value to the community.””

Speeches on the amendment were made by Councillors Pascu-Tulbure and Afonso (for the Opposition) – and Councillor Cowan (for the Administration).

The amendment was then put to the vote:

FOR:                       9

AGAINST:              32

NOT VOTING:        1

The amendment was declared LOST.

A speech on the substantive motion was made by Councillor Harvey (for the Administration). Councillor Chevoppe-Verdier then made a speech winding up the debate before the substantive motion was put to the vote:

FOR:                       32

AGAINST:               9

NOT VOTING:        1

The motion was declared CARRIED.

8.54pm – RESOLVED

This Council recognises the unique character and identity of Uxbridge Road, which is home to a diverse mix of shops and restaurants, a well-attended market, and award-winning cultural venues that serve both residents and visitors from across London.

This Council welcomes the recent petition calling for improvements to the street and resolves to work closely with residents, businesses, cultural venues, and community groups to deliver enhancements that improve safety, cleanliness, and vibrancy while protecting the identity and diversity that make Uxbridge Road a place to be proud of.

This Council notes and resolves to accelerate efforts to improve the road, including decluttering street furniture, deep cleaning pavements, removing graffiti, working with businesses and local artists to improve shopfronts, and encouraging private firms and utilities to act responsibly and remove defunct phone boxes and flyposting. It also welcomes recent business investment on the road.

This Council notes the work of the Law Enforcement Team, who regularly patrol Uxbridge Road to keep it safe, and reaffirms its commitment to an unprecedented investment in producing the UK’s most extensive CCTV network to support the work of the LET and the Metropolitan Police.

This Council notes ongoing planning enforcement actions to address untidy premises and will continue to engage with landlords and businesses to ensure compliance with licensing and planning standards that uplift the street’s appearance, wherever it has the power to do so.

This Council welcomes the feasibility study for a Shepherd’s Bush Business Improvement District, which would be led by local businesses and empower them to further enhance local amenities in a way that complements the unique character of the street’s business offer.