Author Archives: hmgupdated

Having heard concerns about the adequacy of the public health staffing in the face of some challenging situations* in Harrow, we have obtained the staffing information under Freedom of Information. The information is the summary of the total staff, including the public health practitioners, immediately after the public health transition into local authority on 1/4/13Continue reading “Health challenges and public health staffing in Harrow!”

The highly-invasive Japanese knotweed can re-root quickly from a tiny bit of stem. It can come up through tarmac, concrete and even the inside of houses. If you allow the Japanese knotweed to spread onto someone else’s property, Natural England could serve you with an enforcement notice – the prevention of its spread is aContinue reading “Harrow under Japanese knotweed attack!”

Like many previous plans, Harrow Council Corporate Plan 2014-15 reads well though its effective implementation in real terms seems less secure because: Priorities: although the priorities are well defined but the means to achieve these (20 statements) are too many, most are long term processes and can hardly deliver the outcomes like safeguarding vulnerable adultsContinue reading “Harrow Council Corporate Plan reads well but …!”

Missing from the political front for sometimes, Cllr Hall, leader of the opposition (Con), indulged in point-scoring at the recent Harrow planning committee meeting that approved plans to develop the former Post Office and currently derelict site in College Road, Harrow. The development will include affordable housing and many community resources, and can only beContinue reading “Look who is there!”

While many GP practices display the Patient Access posters informing that you could ‘View your health records where ever you are’ and ‘Book GP appointment at any time wherever you can connect to the internet’, the reality is somewhat different. Many surgeries don’t offer all the following features if not subscribed: Book an appointment OrderContinue reading “Patient Access compromised in Harrow!”

Politically Harrow is much quieter expect for the ‘library closures’! In going for a political kill, Harrow East MP has said nothing about his government’s doings that are responsible for the library crisis in the country. Wonder when Mr Blackman MP used a library last! “Government is hiding behind the patchwork nature of local governmentContinue reading “Harrow library closures in national context”

Speaking at the Commons on 27 May, London Mayor hopeful Gareth Thomas, MP Harrow West, reminded, “London did not vote for cuts—to our police, our schools or the services our councils provide—on the scale that is set to befall our great city”. “Londoners need to be able to lead London’s future”, he said. Considering theContinue reading “London Mayor hopeful”

Today Harrow council has elected a charming mayor, Cllr Krishna Suresh, a Sri Lankan – Tory councillors abstained from vote! Like many other town halls, Harrow civic centre brightens up once a year when fresh looking councillors in their best cloths come together in a ceremonial annual council meeting to elect a mayor and appointContinue reading “Harrow Mayoralty, dream for some!”

So Mr Blackman managed to retain his Harrow East seat not necessarily because of his ability as a MP but because of some local factors: In deciding female only Harrow East seat, Labour helped to keep Mr Blackman in place by implications Mr Blackman is known to use sensitive international situations to generate political supportContinue reading “‘Divide & rule’ has its moments!”