The Local Government Association Model Member Code of Conduct published by the Local Government Association in May 2020, says that the code requires a councillor to “treating other councillors and members of the public with civility” – civility, the LGA defines as the politeness and courtesy in behaviour, speech, and in the written word.
Within the scope of the code, the Harrow deputy mayor’s incivility at the council meeting on 23rd October 2024 [heckling, banging the Mayor’s gavel on the bench, and harshly directing words as well as a finger towards a councillor] was reported to the council.
But the Conservative council monitoring officer did not find anything wrong with the Cllr Anjana Patel’s incivility and rather justified it in her letter to us: “Councillor Patel tells me that she was trying to assist the Mayor with the smooth running of the meeting. I understand that the Mayor is not offended by her actions”. The monitoring officer judgement based on these collaborative statements is insecure, because the research shows no such protocol for a deputy mayor!
On the other hand, the page 40 of the Civic Ceremonial Handbook, History and Guidance for Mayors, Councillors and Officer clearly says that “the deputy only has a civic, legal and Royal status in the absence of the Mayor”.
The role of the deputy mayor sitting with the mayor at the council meeting is to quietly observe, as previous council mayors would confirm.
Difficult to ignore that the Conservative Cllr Patel is known to be a good friend of the mayor, who chose her his deputy despite Cllr Patel being in the unfavourable headlines (links below). Cllr Patel is also a potential mayor of Harrow from the Conservative administration.
Commentary:
From 2.40.51 to 2.41.09 the timeline of the council meeting on 23rd October 2024 shows the deputy mayor’s ‘disrespect’ and an overreaching of her duties, undermining the mayor’s role.
“It is not uncommon for Councillors to be interrupted and heckled during speeches. During my own contribution to the meeting, I was interrupted at various times” reported Cllr David Perry, leader of the Labour group on the council, after the council meeting.
But “following the meeting, I received verbal complaints from three past Mayors of Harrow who raised the disrespectful and inappropriate behaviour of the Deputy Mayor during proceedings by heckling and banging the Mayor’s gavel on the bench” Cllr Perry said.
Councillor Anjana Patel, deputy mayor selected by the Conservative group for the year 2024-25 and formalised by the mayor, is likely to progress to become the Harrow mayor this May, which is concerning given the following:
Within the scope of the code, the Harrow deputy mayor’s incivility at the council meeting on 23rd October 2024 [heckling, banging the Mayor’s gavel on the bench, and harshly directing words as well as a finger towards a councillor] was reported to the council.
But the Conservative council monitoring officer did not find anything wrong with the Cllr Anjana Patel’s incivility and rather justified it in her letter to us: “Councillor Patel tells me that she was trying to assist the Mayor with the smooth running of the meeting. I understand that the Mayor is not offended by her actions”. The monitoring officer judgement based on these collaborative statements is insecure, because the research shows no such protocol for a deputy mayor!
On the other hand, the page 40 of the Civic Ceremonial Handbook, History and Guidance for Mayors, Councillors and Officer clearly says that “the deputy only has a civic, legal and Royal status in the absence of the Mayor”.
The role of the deputy mayor sitting with the mayor at the council meeting is to quietly observe, as previous council mayors would confirm.
Difficult to ignore that the Conservative Cllr Patel is known to be a good friend of the mayor, who chose her his deputy despite Cllr Patel being in the unfavourable headlines (links below). Cllr Patel is also a potential mayor of Harrow from the Conservative administration.
Commentary:
From 2.40.51 to 2.41.09 the timeline of the council meeting on 23rd October 2024 shows the deputy mayor’s ‘disrespect’ and an overreaching of her duties, undermining the mayor’s role.
“It is not uncommon for Councillors to be interrupted and heckled during speeches. During my own contribution to the meeting, I was interrupted at various times” reported Cllr David Perry, leader of the Labour group on the council, after the council meeting.
But “following the meeting, I received verbal complaints from three past Mayors of Harrow who raised the disrespectful and inappropriate behaviour of the Deputy Mayor during proceedings by heckling and banging the Mayor’s gavel on the bench” Cllr Perry said.
Councillor Anjana Patel, deputy mayor selected by the Conservative group for the year 2024-25 and formalised by the mayor, is likely to progress to become the Harrow mayor this May, which is concerning given the following:
Harrow Monitoring Group 
The Uncivilised behaviour of the big headed Deputy Mayor of Harrow & reeking of Incivility needs to be addressed Head On & the aspirations dealt a Knockout Blow together with the misguided & ignorant Sycophants that go sniffing round & associate with the candidate which Harrow can do well without!
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