If you liked to send a message to Councillor Curran, we will be collating these in an e-card over the coming weeks. Please submit your message here: leave a message for the Leader.

You can read the latest update from Councillor Curran here: my week, 28 February – 4 March.

From Monday, 7 March updated guidance will be applied across Council offices. These changes reflect the ‘living with COVID-19 plan’, which were introduced by the Government on Thursday, 24 February.   

The measures have been carefully considered by GOLD and our public health colleagues and are based on us all working together, recognising and respecting that we are at different stages in our comfort zone with being in shared spaces.   

Read the full update here: staying safe in council offices.

Each year national pay negotiations are held between Council employers and trade unions. The 2021 pay agreement for local government staff has now been reached. 

You can see the new scales here: pay award 2021 information.

We will be paying the award, and any backdated payments that are due, in your March salary. If you have any queries, please contact peoplesupport@hounslow.gov.uk

We are very sad to announce the untimely passing of one of Hounslow’s longstanding colleagues, Gurinder Kaur. Gurinder worked for the Council for almost twenty years and was a very committed and valued member of the Fostering team. Gurinder was a kind, considerate, approachable and supportive manager who developed excellent relationships with professionals across the service and partner agencies alike. 

Gurinder’s family have said that if anyone wishes to make a charitable donation in her honour, they would love for contributions to be made to the Rennie Grove Hospice Care. If you would like to send a message of condolence, please contact the Fostering Team on x6591 who will be collating these on behalf of Gurinder’s family.

Our EAP is here to support colleagues with free, independent and confidential advice. The service provider, Validium, will always keep your identity and anything you discuss confidential.

Further information on the EAP service can be found here: how to access the EAP.

You can also find a range of resources from Validium on the intranet. This includes the new March newsletter on mindfulness: visit the EAP resources page.

Did you know that in 2021, the Council received over 24,000 reports of fly tips across the borough which cost us over £1.3m? We are determined to reduce the incidents of fly tipping which will make our borough cleaner and greener.

To do this, we want your thoughts on why you think fly tipping occurs in the borough. All answers will be confidential and will feed into designing solutions to help prevent the issue.

Take part here: investigating fly tipping in Hounslow.

We’re taking part in Mind’s Workplace Wellbeing Index. As part of this, we’re asking all colleagues to complete an anonymous survey. By taking part in the Index, we’re hoping to get a better understanding of what helps us stay well at work. 

Take part and find out more here: share your views – LBH Mind Workplace Wellbeing Index. 

If you have any questions about the survey, please get in touch with Ruth Effrim-Botchey, Senior OD, Leadership and Learning Partner at ruth.effrimbotchey@hounslow.gov.uk or developandlearn@hounslow.gov.uk. 

The Council is conducting research to understand colleague travel patterns to and from Hounslow House. 

As part of this research, we invite you to take part in a short, five minute survey: colleague survey - travel to Hounslow House. 

No personal data will be needed, and your assistance is greatly appreciated.

To mark International Women’s Day, the Women’s Equality Network (WEN) would like to invite all colleagues to join a special event.

This session will take place at Hounslow House from 9.30am - 12pm on Tuesday, 8 March (6th floor).

The event will be a chance to hear more about WEN, meet with colleagues across Hounslow and to share your views on the Network's priorities. 

Refreshments will be available but we ask if you can bring your own recyclable cup.

Following the success of the Hounslow Big Quiz, we're back bigger and better with another quiz. This time with a session open to family and friends too.

Everyone is welcome to take part – all generations, whole families, work teams and friends in any combination. Pets as well if they happen to be around.  

You can enter as a team of up to six or as an individual (and we will allocate you a team on the day). The quiz takes place on Thursday, 10 March from 4.45pm to 6.30pm. 

Sign up here: family and friends big quiz.