New style Harrow council cabinet!

In concluding the first cabinet meeting of his administration, leader of the Harrow council councillor Paul Osborn said, “it’s really important that we recognise that how the people are wanting to change, they recognise that they wanted things done differently and better. They wanted them to be put first.”
“And we always need to keep that in mind and remember that, and make sure we deliver on that promise to the residents and repay the trust that they’ve put in us” he added.
It can only be nice that the leader of the council is so resident-orientated and has a good grip on the work of the council, and that  the tone and style of the cabinet meeting was calm and friendly.
Another positive feature of the meeting was to have the leader of the opposition Cllr David Perry as a guest to scrutinise the council reports and enrich the debate, which Cllr Osborn appreciated as being good for ‘better decision-making’.
The cabinet approved some new initiatives, including a new Corporate Plan to be prepared to formally change the vision of the council to ‘Putting Residents First’.
Also, to instruct officers to prepare a proposed Tall Buildings SPD (Supplementary Planning Document) and residential conversion guidance. The well-prepared report was well introduced and answered by the portfolio-holder, Cllr Marilyn Ashton.
The cabinet also reaffirmed the commitment to introduce the Harrow Card, one hour free on street parking and free Bulky Waste Collection, though to carry out a feasibility study about the costs involved in some cases. The three items were introduced by the portfolio-holder for environment, Cllr Anjana Patel.
Cllr Patel appeared to be well protected as most questions regarding the items she introduced were answered by the leader Cllr Osborn after Cllr Patel appeared to be less secure in answering the Harrow Card timeline questions.
In answering a fellow councillor ‘what is the timing for feasibility study to be completed by (re Harrow Card)’, she abruptly said ‘it has been set out in the papers  – as soon as it is done, the department would put forward to us’.
While the guest, Cllr Perry raised pertinent points and helped in making well-informed decisions, not obvious the role and value for money of the three Conservative councillors appointed as the ‘Advisory Member’ to the cabinet. In view of the cabinet composition, not sure what additional or specific sociocultural contributions these ‘advisers’ could make.