Conservative councillors at Harrow Council have approved a budget that will increase council tax by 4.99% in 2026/27 and expand council borrowing.
The increase means the average Band D council tax bill will rise to £2,511, up by almost £500 over the past four years, an overall increase of around 20% since 2022.
The budget also confirms that council debt has risen by £70 million since 2022, with plans to borrow a further £92 million over the next two years under the authority’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy.
Labour councillors voted against the proposals, arguing that the budget places additional pressure on residents during the cost-of-living crisis. They also criticised what they described as avoidable spending over the past two years. Examples cited include £300,000 spent repairing a leisure centre roof, £180,000 on installing and later removing concrete planters in Harrow town centre, more than £350,000 to clear a large fly-tip near Harrow Leisure Centre, and over £643,000 committed to refurbishing and operating a new council chamber at the Ridgeway site in West Harrow.
Labour group leader David Perry described the budget as “a disaster” and said his group could not support measures that, in their view, increase tax burdens while failing to prioritise frontline services.
Conservative councillors defended the budget as responsible financial management amid inflationary pressures and rising service demands. Finance portfolio holder David Ashton criticised Labour’s position, arguing the opposition had failed to offer an alternative.
“It’s a bit rich for Labour to criticise,” he said. “They wasted £50 million on a council building at the Depot, which was both ridiculously costly and in an inappropriate location.
“They highlight a few relatively small costs, out of the £100 million we have spent efficiently and frugally.”
Cllr Ashton also noted that Labour did not present an alternative budget or submit motions during the council meeting.
“They seem bereft of ideas and have nothing to contribute,” he said. “Their conduct at the meeting suggested a party that can only carp, with nothing positive to offer.”
The budget was passed ahead of May’s local elections.
The increase means the average Band D council tax bill will rise to £2,511, up by almost £500 over the past four years, an overall increase of around 20% since 2022.
The budget also confirms that council debt has risen by £70 million since 2022, with plans to borrow a further £92 million over the next two years under the authority’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy.
Labour councillors voted against the proposals, arguing that the budget places additional pressure on residents during the cost-of-living crisis. They also criticised what they described as avoidable spending over the past two years. Examples cited include £300,000 spent repairing a leisure centre roof, £180,000 on installing and later removing concrete planters in Harrow town centre, more than £350,000 to clear a large fly-tip near Harrow Leisure Centre, and over £643,000 committed to refurbishing and operating a new council chamber at the Ridgeway site in West Harrow.
Labour group leader David Perry described the budget as “a disaster” and said his group could not support measures that, in their view, increase tax burdens while failing to prioritise frontline services.
Conservative councillors defended the budget as responsible financial management amid inflationary pressures and rising service demands. Finance portfolio holder David Ashton criticised Labour’s position, arguing the opposition had failed to offer an alternative.
“It’s a bit rich for Labour to criticise,” he said. “They wasted £50 million on a council building at the Depot, which was both ridiculously costly and in an inappropriate location.
“They highlight a few relatively small costs, out of the £100 million we have spent efficiently and frugally.”
Cllr Ashton also noted that Labour did not present an alternative budget or submit motions during the council meeting.
“They seem bereft of ideas and have nothing to contribute,” he said. “Their conduct at the meeting suggested a party that can only carp, with nothing positive to offer.”
The budget was passed ahead of May’s local elections.
Harrow Monitoring Group 