Chair of Hounslow Liberal Democrats on tax, pledges, and coalitions

The local elections in Hounslow will have a big impact on how services such as housing, social care, and street cleaning are managed after May 7.

As part of MyLondon's local election coverage the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) had offered Roger Crouch an opportunity to sit down for an interview about their priorities and pledges.

Main priorities

Roger Crouch outlined reconnecting with residents, reforming local governance, and pragmatic environmentalism as his main priorities. He added: “I think Labour have become rather distant from their residents and have been focusing on both national politics and their internal politics. We are champions for our residents and we stay in contact with them not only at election time but between elections trying to resolve the many and varied issues that need fixing.”

Tax

The Liberal Democrat manifesto attacks Labour for increasing council tax, however Roger Crouch admitted that without fairer funding from national government (something he would lobby for), that councils have to increase tax. He added: “There's also the issue that fixing issues doesn't necessarily save money. Hounslow Council really needs to invest in repairing the many varied problems in Hounslow rather than doing temporary works. So for example, potholes filled in, a week later they're potholes again."

Manifesto commitments

The Liberal Democrats have pledged to work with the Metropolitan Police to tackle crime in the borough. When asked how this would lead to change, Roger Crouch said: “Councils do have a role in policing in their local authorities and again even as opposition councillors, you should be lobbying for your local area and lobbying for the Met to provide policing where there's a high level of crime. Obviously, as Liberal Democrats, we will lobby politically for the Mayor of London to be given more funding for more police."

Roger Crouch was asked whether plans to retrofit council buildings with insulation and solar panels, and a pledge for joined up cycle lanes across the borough had been costed. He admitted that it hasn’t as the party is so small locally, and does not have a single councillor, describing the manifesto as things that would be pushed for by new councillors.

Predictions and potential coalitions

Roger Crouch admitted that it is unlikely that the Lib Dems will take control of Hounslow Council, however he believes there is a good chance that there will be Liberal Democrat councillors in Hounslow after May 7 - measuring a first councillor in 16 years as a success that can build the “foundations for future growth.” He also ruled out working with Reform UK.