The White City Residents Association said locals have “expressed concerns about the support” from their three councillors
A West London residents’ group has accused the local Labour councillors of being largely absent and with “increasingly limited engagement”, claiming one of them has only attending a single open meeting in the last four years.
The White City Residents Association (WCRA), which represents those living on the estate, said changes to public surgeries had also left locals feeling “disappointed”.
The WCRA told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) residents “have expressed concerns about the support from their councillors even when they are able to contact them, many telling us they have been left waiting for updates on their issues”.
A Hammersmith and Fulham Labour spokesperson said its councillors go “above and beyond for residents”, adding that being a local representative is not a “tick-box exercise”.
The White City ward in the north of Hammersmith and Fulham is one of the borough’s most deprived. One stop on the Central Line from Shepherd’s Bush, the area has undergone extensive changes in the last decade or so, with new housing blocks and the development of the White City Innovation District.
It is however best-known for the White City Estate, a major complex built in the mid-20th century and home to more than 4,000 people.
At the May elections Labour retained all three seats available in the ward, with Andrew Jones, Natalia Perez and Frances Umeh successfully holding off a surging Green Party. The Labour group also held on to the council overall, which it has run continuously since winning the authority from the Tories in 2014.
The White City Estate was recently shaken by a fire which broke out in a former Over 50s Centre, killing three people. As reported by the LDRS serious questions are being asked of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, which owns the building, with residents airing their frustrations at the derelict state of the premises at a briefing in June.
An investigation by the Met Police into the incident is ongoing.
Meetings consistently missed, WCRA claims
The WCRA told the LDRS it has held seven standard open meetings since June 2025. These do not include the one immediately following the fire, which the Association has described as a ‘community briefing’.
For those seven meetings, Cllr Perez is understood to have attended four and given apologies for three, as has Cllr Umeh.
Cllr Jones is, however, down as having attended none and only giving an apology for three. The WCRA added that of the open meetings held this year councillors have only been to one, in January, with Cllr Jones reportedly attending just a single session in the last four years.
The LDRS put these points to the Labour group and none of the figures were contested.
A second point of frustration raised by the WCRA is the recent cancellation of monthly surgeries at the estate’s community centre. Instead councillors are doing “regular street surgeries”, though the Association claims residents were not told of this update.
They are continuing to hold surgeries on the first Tuesday of each month, other than August, at Shepherd’s Bush Library on Wood Lane by Westfield.
A spokesperson for the WCRA said residents are unclear what the street surgeries are and that they appear not to have been informed of the change. They said: “Residents expect to be able to connect with their local councillors in person when they need support, but White City residents might have to hope they are lucky enough to spot a ‘street surgery’ at just the right time.”
‘Above and beyond’
A Hammersmith and Fulham Labour spokesperson said: “Hammersmith and Fulham Labour councillors go above and beyond for residents, working constructively with the whole community to deliver real results. Councillors regularly attend resident meetings, though if these are scheduled on the same night as statutory, public meetings like Full Council that is not always possible.
“The White City councillors know how difficult recent weeks have been for residents on the estate following the fire, and are committed to being visible and available at a time when the community needs them most.
“That’s exactly why, since their re-election, they’ve replaced one of their monthly drop-in surgeries with monthly ‘street surgeries’ – going door-to-door across the White City Estate and wider ward, so residents don’t have to come to them. The first took place earlier this month, with all three ward councillors taking part, and this direct, on-the-ground approach will continue.
“Residents also regularly reach their councillors by email, phone or post, or via their surgery at Shepherds Bush Library on the first Tuesday of each month.”
The spokesperson said councillors work closely as a team and prioritise attending meetings, adding all three were present at the session following the fire.
This was queried by the LDRS as Cllr Jones was not seen at the event in person, but it is understood he had attended online.
The local Labour spokesperson continued: “Rather than relying on any single meeting or forum to engage with residents, the councillors go directly to them, because that’s where the real conversations and casework happen. It’s this hands-on, direct approach that Hammersmith and Fulham Labour councillors believe best reflects their commitment to their ward.
“The hard work of White City’s councillors has not gone unnoticed, as the ward had one of London’s best results for Labour at recent elections.”
Last month Cllr Jones was urged to explain where he lives after stating on his nomination form ahead of the elections that he resides in the borough.
The LDRS was unable to identify a property that appears to satisfy the requirement of selecting this option, and repeated requests for an explanation as to where he lives were not addressed.
A Hammersmith and Fulham Labour spokesperson said Cllr Jones is a registered electoral voter and council taxpayer in the borough and that he was “fully qualified” to stand in the election, which was never disputed.
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