Thanks for your very kind words concerning my performance during the Hounslow Homes Review.

As you know this was a very difficult period, more akin to an exorcism than a conventional review of a service provided to and for the local authority, and it preoccupied me for most of my first year as an Executive member, thus setting back some of the other things that I had determined to achieve.

However all’s well that ends well, we now have a much better working relationship with our ALMO. Yes, there are still differences of course and occasionally frictions, but at least now we have a recognition that Hounslow has a new administration and an acceptance that the organisation’s role is to assist it in delivering its priorities in Housing.

As regards the remainder of the portfolio, you will be a very hard act indeed to follow so please expect me to be seeking out your advice and expertise.

Thank you for your comment and apologies for the slow response. I agree with everything you say.

My view is that the most important thing a business or organisation gets from an IT department is a safe, secure and reliable operation. The second thing are business improvements through the smart deployment of new technology and functionality.

I will post updates on progress in the future. It is certainly a very high priority for me for the reasons given above but delivery here will make the Council an even better experience for our residents.

C. Duke might be referring to the fact that the valuation process (as at 1991) was at best sloppy, and in practice resulted in many properties being placed in higher bandings than they really ought to have been. Victims were given the right to appeal but had to do so within six months of the valuation having been made, which in many cases was not possible. The ICG “saved” hundreds of properties in Isleworth from being taxed over the odds in 1994 by notifying those who had been over-valued that this had happened, but those who failed to appeal on time remain over-valued today and sadly there is nothing we as a local authority can do about it.

It’s about time something was dome about this and I applaud Hounslow Council. Let’s have no more of this corrupt leniency from the council towards friends, family or other members of their own community who wish to develop without authorised planning permission!