Harrow children’s services plunged back into instability as another director departs

Harrow Council is facing renewed turmoil in its children’s services following the departure of the Director of Children’s Services, prompting the emergency appointment of Managing Director Alex Dewsnap as interim DCS.
The statutory role, required under the Children Act 2004, is now being filled on an interim basis “to ensure continuity of leadership” while the council begins yet another recruitment process.
This latest leadership change comes at a moment of profound crisis for the service, which was recently rated “inadequate” by Ofsted and placed under a government improvement notice, requiring urgent, demonstrable progress.
Despite years of restructuring, Harrow continues to struggle with severe delays in Education, Health and Care Plans, inconsistent communication with families, rising complaints and chronic workforce instability. High caseloads, heavy reliance on agency staff and persistent gaps in early-help provision have left frontline teams overstretched, while support for vulnerable children remains patchy and unpredictable.
The Ofsted inspection highlighted widespread failures in the children’s services, confirming what families have long reported about poor timeliness, weak oversight and ineffective management. Many argue that these problems are systemic rather than individual, with repeated staff departures signalling deeper cultural and organisational weaknesses.
Critics also emphasise the political dimension, questioning why the cabinet member for children’s services, Cllr Hitesh Karia, has remained in post throughout a prolonged period of poor performance, instability and regulatory intervention. They argue that continual changes in senior officers will achieve little without a shift in culture, stronger political oversight and a more compassionate ethos that prioritises vulnerable children over short-term, visibility-driven policy choices.
Some observers argue that the administration’s right-leaning, enforcement-focused approach has diverted attention away from families who depend most on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision, children’s social care and early-help support.
With another interim appointment now in place and the service operating under a government improvement notice, concerns remain about whether Harrow can deliver the stability, leadership and cultural reset required to drive meaningful change.
What is needed is sustained investment in early help, stronger accountability across political and officer leadership, and a fundamental reorientation of priorities to ensure that children and young people finally receive the consistent, lawful and timely support they deserve.

Harrow must step up as PCCs are scrapped

The government’s decision to scrap Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) by 2028 has closed the book on a system that never quite worked.
Brought in twelve years ago under David Cameron’s “Big Society” vision to make policing more accountable, PCCs were supposed to give the public a greater say in how their communities are policed. Yet few people even knew who their commissioner was. The Home Office says fewer than 20% of voters could name theirs. The role will now be absorbed by elected mayors or council leaders – saving £100 million nationally, with £20 million a year promised for front-line policing.
For Harrow, the change could bring policing oversight closer to home. While the Metropolitan Police will remain under the Mayor of London’s authority, the shift opens the door for stronger collaboration between borough councils and local police teams. That could mean better coordination on the issues residents care about most – anti-social behaviour, youth safety, and visible policing.
Harrow Council now has several years to prepare for this new responsibility. It should use that time wisely – to build better partnerships with local police leadership, and to explain clearly to residents how the new arrangements will work. If done well, this could mark a fresh start for how community safety is managed and communicated in our borough.
Still, the government must ensure accountability isn’t lost in the process. Scrapping PCCs without public consultation has raised fears of a democratic gap at a time when trust in policing is already fragile.
Harrow’s leaders now have a chance to shape what comes next. If local government takes a more active role in setting policing priorities and linking them with services like housing and youth work, the community could finally see the joined-up approach it has long called for.
The PCC system may have failed, but its goal was right: giving residents a real say in how their streets are kept safe. Harrow deserves nothing less.

Harrow’s new Station Road paving fails within months – costly design and engineering oversights under fire

The decorative block-paved surface installed on a section of Station Road in Harrow Town Centre was visually appealing when first completed, though concerns were raised at the time about its long-term durability. Just months later, those concerns appear justified: the latest photographs show damaged bricks, widening gaps, and clear signs of subsidence across the recently revamped surface. The scheme, funded through public money as part of Harrow’s wider streetscape improvement programme, has deteriorated far more quickly than expected. The road is heavily used by Transport for London double-decker buses, which can weigh up to 18 tonnes when fully loaded and apply tyre pressures of around 8 bar – levels of stress far in excess of what most decorative paving can tolerate without highly specialised sub-base engineering.
While isolated issues with block paving can sometimes be addressed through basic brick replacement or refilling of joints, the defects on Station Road appear structural, not superficial. The pattern of sinking and displacement suggests deeper failures in the underlying design, construction quality, or both.
There is now a strong public case for a formal investigation into how a brand-new, taxpayer-funded road surface has degraded so rapidly – and who is accountable at the professional level, distinct from councillors.
Key areas for scrutiny include:
– the suitability of the chosen materials and paving design for a major bus corridor
– the quality of installation, including sub-base preparation and compaction
– whether engineering specifications properly accounted for heavy-vehicle loading
– the adequacy of on-site supervision during construction
– how the works were signed off and certified as compliant
Residents seek answers – and assurance that any remedial works will be carried out to a standard fit for one of Harrow’s busiest transport routes.

Harrow police station closure – local concern or political theatre?

On the face of it, Harrow Council administration’s decision to launch legal proceedings against the Mayor of London over the planned closure of the borough’s last remaining police front desk seems like a bold defence of local interests. Council leader Paul Osborn has called the move “short-sighted” and “unacceptable,” arguing that closing the Pinner and Harrow front counters will strip residents of vital in-person access to policing. Few would dispute the value of a local police presence – especially for vulnerable residents who rely on face-to-face support.
But look a little closer, and this “legal bid” begins to resemble something else: a rerun of an old political script. It’s hard not to forget the failed ULEZ legal challenge, when Harrow joined four other Tory-led councils in taking Sadiq Khan’s Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion to court – at the taxpayers’ expense. That case, widely seen as a political stunt, was dismissed by the High Court, leaving residents questioning why public funds had been used to wage a fight so many experts warned they couldn’t win.
The fingerprints of that same political strategy are visible again. This time, it’s police counters instead of car emissions, but the target remains the same: London’s Labour Mayor. The move bears the hallmarks of a continuing campaign by key figures in Harrow Conservatives, led by those with long-standing axes to grind against Sadiq Khan. Among them is Cllr Susan Hall, the former leader of the Conservative group and reappointed head of the GLA Conservatives, who has made no secret of her hostility toward Khan – calling him “a disgrace” and contested against him in the 2024 mayoral election, where Londoners decisively rejected her. Her influence within the local Tory group still lingers, and her political playbook – confront Khan, headline first, substance later – appears to live on.
There’s no denying the closure of police counters raises genuine community concerns. Residents want reassurance, not rhetoric. The issue, however, is not whether Harrow deserves accessible policing – it does – but whether another costly courtroom clash is the best way to deliver it. City Hall data shows crime patterns are shifting; knife crime and burglaries are down, while resources are being redirected to frontline patrols. Yet, rather than engage in serious dialogue on how Harrow can adapt, the local Conservatives seem more interested in reviving their anti-Khan crusade.
So, is this really about protecting residents – or protecting political relevance?
Once again, Harrow risks being used as the stage for a bigger political performance. If the council’s motive is truly community safety, it should be seeking solutions, not soundbites. But if this is another chapter in the ULEZ play – a taxpayer-funded act in an ongoing feud – then it’s not justice or safety that’s being served, but political theatre. And Londoners have seen this show before.

Harrow renters win major protections as the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 becomes law

Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas has today declared: “A promise made, a promise delivered” after the landmark Renters’ Rights Act received Royal Assent. The reforms mark a significant shift for renters across Harrow, a borough where around 88,000 households rent privately and where high London rents, bidding wars, and insecure tenancies have long created pressure for local families.
Private renting has become an increasingly significant part of Harrow’s housing picture, but many renters have struggled with the growing trend of competition between prospective tenants. In north-west London, agents and tenants have reported property advertisements where applicants were asked to submit offers above the listed rent, driving up prices and making it harder for people to secure a home. Others have faced the uncertainty of short fixed-term tenancies lasting just six to twelve months, followed by the risk of being asked to move on with minimal notice despite having been reliable tenants.
Concerns over poor housing conditions and weak enforcement have also been building locally. In October, housing campaigners issued a call to protest under the banner “Harrow Council: Stop Ignoring Renters”. They warned that too many households in the borough were living with damp and mould, rogue landlords, unaffordable rents, and long periods spent in temporary accommodation. Their message to the local authority was direct: renters deserve safe, secure and decent homes – and the Council must do more to listen and respond.
Against this backdrop, the Renters’ Rights Act represents a fundamental reset. Reflecting on the significance of the reform, Gareth Thomas said the changes will reshape renting standards in Harrow. He explained: “No more bidding wars, it’s now illegal to request, encourage or accept offers above the set price. No more paying huge amounts upfront, you can’t be asked to pay more than one month’s rent upfront. No more no-fault evictions, all evictions must be based on valid grounds. Fixed-term tenancies ended, all tenancies will default to being rolling monthly contracts. Landlords can no longer impose blanket bans on pets; they must consider requests fairly and give reasonable justification for refusals. Longer notice for sales means renters must be given at least four months’ notice when a tenancy is ending because the landlord intends to sell.”
He added that these reforms deliver meaningful protection for the roughly 88,000 renting households in Harrow and ensure a “fairer, more secure deal” for local people navigating the borough’s challenging rental market.
Although the Act has now become law, many of its measures will only take effect once detailed commencement regulations are introduced. Until then, renters in Harrow who believe a landlord or agent is acting unfairly – such as by demanding several months’ rent upfront or encouraging bids above the set asking price – are advised to keep clear records, gather evidence and seek support at an early stage.

Restoring real respect: local action revives Roxeth Hill war graves

As others turn Remembrance into a stage for nationalistic gestures, Harrow on the Hill Labour councillors have quietly worked with local residents and Christ Church Roxeth to restore a forgotten corner of Harrow’s history.
Just in time for Remembrance Sunday, the Roxeth Hill war graves now stand clear and dignified once more – a lasting tribute to service, sacrifice, and genuine care in action.
The efforts of councillors Stephen Hickman and Eden Kulig, working alongside Christ Church Roxeth and Harrow Council’s Parks and Cemeteries Team, have brought new life to the long-overgrown Roxeth Hill Burial Ground, ensuring it could be reopened and restored in time for this weekend’s commemorations.
Dating back to 1902, the burial ground is home to five Commonwealth War Graves honouring local men who served and died in the First World War: Rifleman G. Macdonald, 2nd Corporal D. McCallum, Rifleman A. McCallum, Private A.C. Harman, and Able Seaman F. Field. Their graves had been hidden beneath dense growth for years – until this recent community effort revealed them once again.Using ward funding to support the clearance and restoration work, the councillors ensured the site was made safe, accessible, and dignified. Visitors can now access the graves via Christ Church Roxeth car park, and the space is already drawing quiet reflection from local residents.
Cllr Stephen Hickman said:
“This has been about dignity and remembrance – restoring a place where local people can reflect on those who gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today. It’s been a privilege to work with the church and community to bring it back to life.”
This project has shown the spirit of Remembrance in its truest form — ordinary people and local representatives coming together to care for shared history.
In Harrow, Remembrance is being honoured by its diverse community through respect in action – not political rhetoric.

Another blow for Harrow: Ombudsman exposes failures in children’s services

Harrow Council’s crisis-hit children’s services have been dealt another blow after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) found serious fault in the way it handled a family’s complaint about respite care. The ruling, published in July 2025, comes amid continuing fallout from Ofsted’s “inadequate” judgement and a government improvement notice that has placed the service under formal supervision.
The Ombudsman found that Harrow failed to follow the statutory children’s complaints procedure in a case involving a teenage child with special needs. The family, entitled to 28 nights of respite care a year, never received the full support promised. Instead of following the law, the Council mishandled the matter through its corporate complaints system, provided confusing and incomplete responses, and ignored multiple reminders from the Ombudsman.
The watchdog concluded that these failings caused “avoidable distress, worry and frustration” to the family. Harrow has since agreed to apologise, pay £700 in symbolic compensation, and restart a lawful Stage 2 investigation. A report to Cabinet on 30 October 2025 by Monitoring Officer Jessica Farmer confirmed the Council was guilty of “fault causing injustice” and outlined systemic weaknesses in its complaints handling and governance.
The case adds to a troubling pattern of findings against Harrow by the Ombudsman in recent years. Since 2022, the Council has been found at fault in multiple cases across housing, adult care and special educational needs. These include failures to rehouse vulnerable residents, mishandling care charges, lengthy delays in providing statutory SEN support, and poor communication with families. Compensation payments over this period exceed £10,000, including more than £6,000 in one housing case in 2025 where a blind man and his family were left in unsuitable accommodation for years.
Council leaders say reforms are underway. New escalation routes have been introduced, recruitment is underway to strengthen case-handling, and plans are advancing for a digital system to track complaints and improve oversight. But after successive watchdog rebukes and an ongoing government improvement notice, Harrow’s pledges of reform are being met with scepticism.
Pride in Harrow comes not from nationalist gestures or slogans, but from valuing all residents equally – especially the most vulnerable. Until the Council demonstrates that commitment in practice, its reputation for care and accountability will remain under question – reflecting poorly on the leadership and management of the authority.

Pamela Fitzpatrick slams Labour MP for promoting private health firm

Pamela Fitzpatrick, director of Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace and Justice Project and founder of Harrow’s new grassroots political party Arise, has sharply criticised local MP Gareth Thomas after his public visit to Cygnet Hospital in Harrow this week.
Thomas, Labour MP for Harrow West, praised the hospital for “working closely with the NHS and community partners to make a real difference in people’s lives.” But Fitzpatrick said he is misleading the public by failing to disclose that Cygnet Hospital is owned by Cygnet Health Care Ltd – a private company whose 2024 accounts show revenues of over £680 million, up £70 million on the previous year.
“Much of their income comes from NHS and local authority contracts,” Fitzpatrick said. “Cygnet’s parent company, Universal Health Services Inc, is a US private healthcare giant. We the people are the ones paying for these companies’ vast profits. Imagine if that profit was reinvested into the NHS instead of going to shareholders.”
Fitzpatrick argued that Thomas’s endorsement highlights a broader problem in British politics: “Imagine if we had MPs who would fight for an NHS free of private companies rather than cosying up to them. Another world is possible – one based on the needs of the people, not the profits of corporations. But politicians like Thomas aren’t going to deliver that for us. It’s up to us.”
Launched in August, Arise positions itself as a new local alternative to the main political parties ahead of the 2026 Harrow Council elections. The movement, Fitzpatrick said, was “born out of frustration” with both Labour and the Conservatives.
“Whether it’s Tory or Labour, we really haven’t seen improvement in Harrow,” she told supporters at the launch. “Now is the time to come together and demand change — because we deserve better.”

Harrow impact as Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2025 nears finalisation

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2025, now at Report Stage in the House of Lords, raises continuing concerns about centralisation, weakened environmental safeguards, and reduced local accountability. These issues are particularly relevant to Harrow, where local planning capacity, green infrastructure, and community participation are central to shaping sustainable development.
As the Bill is expected to complete Lords scrutiny by the end of the year and move to the Commons in early 2026, Harrow’s elected representatives may wish to ensure that local priorities are fully reflected in the final legislation.
The Bill’s centralising provisions could restrict Harrow Council’s ability to set planning priorities on housing density, town centre regeneration, and transport links. Increased ministerial control and the wider use of development corporations risk diminishing local transparency and community influence over major development decisions.
The proposed Nature Restoration Levy seeks to link development with biodiversity recovery, but without statutory ring-fencing, there is no guarantee that funds raised in Harrow will be reinvested locally. This could leave the borough facing the environmental costs of growth without corresponding investment in green infrastructure or ecological restoration.
Replacing Environmental Impact Assessments with Environmental Outcomes Reports shifts to an outcome-based model that may reduce consultation and weaken environmental scrutiny. Smaller authorities such as Harrow may struggle to secure the expertise needed to assess these reports effectively, potentially undermining protection for green belt land, heritage assets, and flood-sensitive areas.
Reforms to compulsory purchase powers aim to speed up infrastructure delivery but could erode community protections and fair compensation. This may disadvantage Harrow’s residents and small businesses affected by regeneration or transport-related developments further. In addition, the Bill’s broad “connected purposes” clause grants the minister wide discretion to extend its scope through secondary legislation, limiting both parliamentary and local oversight.
As the Bill approaches its final stages, Harrow’s representatives in Parliament and local government may wish to seek assurances that local planning authorities retain statutory rights to determine major applications, that meaningful consultation is secured before decisions by central agencies or development corporations, that Nature Restoration Levy proceeds are ring-fenced for local reinvestment, that Environmental Outcomes Reports provide equivalent transparency to current assessment regimes, and that residents and small businesses are protected from unfair compulsory acquisition.

From budgets to better streets: the positive impact of joined-up thinking in Harrow

At a time when local authorities across the country are grappling with limited resources, mounting infrastructure backlogs, and increasing demands for transparency and efficiency, the alignment between a cabinet member’s expertise and their area of responsibility has never been more crucial. 
In Harrow, Councillor David Ashton provides one of the clearest examples of how such alignment between experience and responsibility can deliver tangible results for residents.
Cllr Ashton’s leadership in the finance & highways portfolio demonstrates the value of matching professional experience with civic duty. His professional background in accountancy and financial management, combined with prior leadership experience, provides a solid foundation for tackling the twin challenges of managing public finances prudently and revitalising Harrow’s infrastructure.
So far, the results speak for themselves: more resurfaced roads, repaired pavements, reduced potholes, and disciplined budget management. These are not abstract policy wins, but visible improvements that residents encounter every day – evidence of a portfolio where strategy meets delivery.
For Harrow’s residents, this matters. A smoother road or a newly paved pavement represents more than infrastructure investment; it reflects confidence that the council’s finances are in capable hands and that public money is being spent wisely. It also bridges a gap that is too often missing in local government – the direct connection between policy decisions, fiscal responsibility, and real-world outcomes.
If Cllr Ashton and his team can maintain this momentum, ensuring that highways investments deliver long-term value while steering the council through the financial challenges ahead, Harrow could emerge as a model for some neighbouring boroughs seeking government support to avoid potential financial crisis – a place where expertise aligns with responsibility, and where residents ultimately reap the rewards.
However, no performance is without its challenges, and a note of caution is appropriate. While investment in highways has been strong, underlying budget pressures remain acute. The borough anticipates spending more than its projected income over the next three years, meaning tough choices are inevitable.
Moreover, time will tell whether the current wave of road and footway improvements results in long-term savings – through fewer repairs and less disruption – or simply represents a necessary catch-up after years of underinvestment. The true test will be in the durability of the outcomes.