Harrow council – controlled by the Conservatives after bucking London’s Labour wave in 2022 – is facing mounting criticism over failing services, even as it unveils major new investments.
The borough has committed £42 million over three years to upgrade roads and pavements, alongside a £900,000 boost for street cleansing and a £6 million injection into parks, aiming to lift the number of Green Flag-accredited sites from six to nine by 2026. Free one-hour parking has also been rolled out to support local businesses.
But serious concerns overshadow these achievements. Ofsted branded Children’s Services “Inadequate,” citing poor support for care leavers and DfE improvement notice issued to the council, while the Care Quality Commission rated Adult Social Care as “Requires Improvement” amid long delays, digital access barriers, and reliance on zero-hours contracts.
Residents have also reported years-long waits for housing repairs, with some cases affecting children’s health.
Meanwhile, weak financial oversight – linked to repeated project delays and problems with the Dynamics 365 system – has eroded public trust.
While some planning documents are updated, local feedback further criticises rigid planning processes and inconsistent street maintenance, fuelling frustration that progress around the town centre has not been matched across the borough.
Harrow council also faces sharp criticism over systemic failures exposed by Ombudsman. Their findings reveal a council dangerously out of step with its responsibilities – particularly towards its most vulnerable residents.
Read: more and more complaints against the council being externally upheld
Analysts note the political stakes are high: Harrow is the only London borough the Conservatives wrested from Labour in 2022 – well calculated support from sections of the British Indian community in Harrow East played a pivotal role in winning some wards, and therefore the council *(1).
Residents and campaigners are now demanding urgent, transparent reforms to restore confidence in services – warning that the council risks losing hard-won support if it cannot deliver, especially as voters would have wider choice in 2026 council elections.
Read: New Political Party ‘Arise’ Launched in Harrow
As well as, demanding a public review of Ombudsman findings, concrete reforms, especially in care-home governance, housing repairs, and complaint follow-up. Also, greater transparency and communication from the council when decisions affect vulnerable groups.
The council administration must place residents at the centre of its decision-making and take decisive steps to restore public confidence in the council services, rather than deflecting concerns by appealing to nationalist sentiment.
*(1)
The borough has committed £42 million over three years to upgrade roads and pavements, alongside a £900,000 boost for street cleansing and a £6 million injection into parks, aiming to lift the number of Green Flag-accredited sites from six to nine by 2026. Free one-hour parking has also been rolled out to support local businesses.
But serious concerns overshadow these achievements. Ofsted branded Children’s Services “Inadequate,” citing poor support for care leavers and DfE improvement notice issued to the council, while the Care Quality Commission rated Adult Social Care as “Requires Improvement” amid long delays, digital access barriers, and reliance on zero-hours contracts.
Residents have also reported years-long waits for housing repairs, with some cases affecting children’s health.
Meanwhile, weak financial oversight – linked to repeated project delays and problems with the Dynamics 365 system – has eroded public trust.
While some planning documents are updated, local feedback further criticises rigid planning processes and inconsistent street maintenance, fuelling frustration that progress around the town centre has not been matched across the borough.
Harrow council also faces sharp criticism over systemic failures exposed by Ombudsman. Their findings reveal a council dangerously out of step with its responsibilities – particularly towards its most vulnerable residents.
Read: more and more complaints against the council being externally upheld
Analysts note the political stakes are high: Harrow is the only London borough the Conservatives wrested from Labour in 2022 – well calculated support from sections of the British Indian community in Harrow East played a pivotal role in winning some wards, and therefore the council *(1).
Residents and campaigners are now demanding urgent, transparent reforms to restore confidence in services – warning that the council risks losing hard-won support if it cannot deliver, especially as voters would have wider choice in 2026 council elections.
Read: New Political Party ‘Arise’ Launched in Harrow
As well as, demanding a public review of Ombudsman findings, concrete reforms, especially in care-home governance, housing repairs, and complaint follow-up. Also, greater transparency and communication from the council when decisions affect vulnerable groups.
The council administration must place residents at the centre of its decision-making and take decisive steps to restore public confidence in the council services, rather than deflecting concerns by appealing to nationalist sentiment.
*(1)
Harrow Monitoring Group 
With Harrow Council under Fire 🔥 , it is surprising that it has not gone up in flames by now like some of the HMO Properties in the Borough which are owned by Notorious & Rogue Landlords !
As for providing sub-standard services with successful resolutions of issues hardly ever in sight & Harrow Council with criticisms galore coming in from many quarters , which is no surprise with the many incompetent characters being paid salaries at the expense of financially stressed Harrow Residents & staff who are unable to comprehend how to tackle problems but are experts at dragging them along as well as compounding them! Shocking.
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