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“The best decision I ever made was moving to Hounslow”
politics include holidays and sport. He played for Kingston RFC and Richmond FC rugby clubs and is a passionate supporter of Brentford FC and London Irish.
“My favourite part about being leader was meeting the diverse type of people who live in the borough. From Chiswick to Feltham, I always enjoyed meeting new people and finding out how we could make Hounslow a stronger, fairer and greener borough. I moved to the borough more than 28 years ago and it was the best decision I ever made. “My proudest achievement as leader is building new council homes. During the past four years of this administration, we built 1,300 council homes for local people at local rent. Like many other London boroughs, Hounslow has an acute housing shortage. However, by building these homes we made a tangible difference to hundreds of families’ lives. “As leader, I made it a priority to strengthen the relationship between businesses and Hounslow Council – working very closely and in partnership with Hounslow Chamber of Commerce. With Brentford FC and London Irish based at Brentford Community Stadium, Hounslow is firmly on the map as a place that people want to work, visit and live. This is testament to our strong and fruitful relationships with local businesses – ensuring Hounslow is a thriving and prosperous place to be.
Councillor Steve Curran reflects on his time as leader of Hounslow Council… Brought up in Kingston-uponThames, Councillor Steve Curran moved to Brentford 28 years ago. Before becoming a councillor, he worked in the NHS for 39 years – most recently as head of facilities for Great Ormond’s Street. He retired from the NHS five years
ago. He became a councillor for the Syon Ward in 2010 and held various posts in Hounslow Council’s cabinet as the lead on housing, health and education. He became leader of Hounslow Council in 2014. Councillor Curran’s interests outside of
“The most difficult part about being leader was that you never knew what was coming over
the horizon. When you’re a leader of a council, you’re on call 24/7. Councils also have a huge responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in our society – whether that be children in care or vulnerable adults. This always presented us with challenges; however, protecting the vulnerable was always a top priority for me, never more so than during the pandemic. The thing I most enjoyed about being leader was handing over the keys to a resident who was moving into her new council home. Back in February, I met a single mum who had recently moved into a council home we had built in Feltham. She was so grateful for the home we had provided for and her baby. Her positive experience makes this job worthwhile. One thing I never expected about being leader was the depth and complexity of the role. The pandemic certainly presented itself with unexpected challenges for me. However, I can honestly say it brought out the best in the borough. Whether it was supporting residents with food parcels or offering support packages to local businesses severely hit – all parts of the borough came together to make a difference. If I could say one thing to the next leader it would be: stick to your values. Deliver what you said you were going to deliver. Being leader of a council certainly requires perseverance, so keep persevering! Enjoy the role and have fun. I certainly did.
My proudest achievement as leader is building new council homes. During the past four years of this administration, we built 1,300 council homes for local people at local rent. let’s talkbusiness
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