Author Archives: hmgupdated

We glean high appreciation for the return of the chief executive post and the post-holder, even by the junior council staff. After the Labour regained the council last year, they restored the chief executive post that was “unilaterally and wrongly” deleted by the short-lived Councillor Hall’s administration (Tory), forcing the chief executive Michael Lockwood toContinue reading “Chief executive is good investment”

There is a significant rise in the local authority issuing Educational Penalty Notices to parents or taking them to Court because of unauthorised absence of children from school, according to the information obtained under Freedom of Information. Harrow local authority issued 55 notices in 2013, 187 in 2014 but 281 in 2015 (up to 31Continue reading “Rise in parent sanctions!”

Availing the golden opportunity to comment on the anti-social behaviours such as spitting, Conservative opposition leader Councillor Hall has referred to “our previous administration”. Would be interesting to recall the nature and quality of that short-lived Tory ‘administration’ – a fluke! Like misjudging her support at the council and bringing her budget to the councilContinue reading “Hall’s ‘previous administration’!”

In November, Prime Minister David Cameron, a regular visitor to the Harrow marginal constituencies, said, “Changes to welfare – to cut EU migration – will be an absolute requirement in the negotiation that I’m going to undertake” – he meant the four-year residency test for migrants claiming certain benefits, such as tax credits, child benefitContinue reading “Further blow to welfare changes!”

Thousands of youngsters who have fled unstable backgrounds and abuse could be forced into homelessness as the government plans to strip unemployed 18-21 year olds of housing benefits, warns the Youth charity YMCA in its recent research report ‘Uncertain Futures’. The government announced the policy shift during Chancellor George Osborne’s emergency budget, as part ofContinue reading “Care Leavers exposed to the risk of homelessness!”

Following the concerns about the public health staffing in Harrow, another serious matter emerged is the quality of the health services for Children Looked After (CLA) by Harrow Council in accordance with its role of Corporate Parent. The last inspection of health services for Harrow’s children in May 2012 of safeguarding and looked after children’sContinue reading “Health care of CLA remains an issue in Harrow!”

The popularity of Jeremy Corbyn campaign for Labour leadership has reached Harrow, demonstrated by the Labour councillors supported canvassing activity at the Harrow Town Centre last Saturday (25 July)! A campaigning socialist, the Islington North MP is leading the leadership poll which has troubled the New Labour gurus like Tony Blair and his followers likeContinue reading “Healthy Labour leadership is important”

It appears to be a norm for the Conservative group to rubbish plans for major developments in Harrow. This time they make a mountain out of a molehill regarding the planning permission for 51 College Road, Harrow. Bit worrying that the handsomely paid Conservative planning spokesman could only quote from what others have said ratherContinue reading “Tory group lacks appreciation!”

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!”