Forthcoming Harrow council cabinet meeting (21 January) is likely to agree recommended levels of fines for many environmental crimes, including 100% increase in some that have no levels of the fines currently .
The purpose of the Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) is to reduce environmental crime within the Borough and should be part of a wider enforcement strategy, designed to address all aspects of environmental crime, says the council.
The proposed levels of charges make good sense considering the increased environmental anti-social behaviour in the borough like fly-tipping, the proposed fine for which is to increase from £200 to £400. Similarly, graffiti and fly-posting fines are to increase from £80 to £150.
Recently increased random fly-tipping includes furniture, electrical goods and even children toys left on the pavement outside the house, perhaps because of the lack of understanding that this constitutes fly tipping, an anti-social behaviour which is a criminal offence – good case for effectively educating the potential offenders.
Harrow council street teams and intelligence based actions swiftly clear up fly tips but residents are rightly concerned about fly-tipping and they want more done to combat the problem.
For example, to offer a reward  for information which leads to a successful prosecution in cases of fly tipping as practised by Surrey Heath Borough Council (offering £5000 reward).
The officer report before the cabinet sets out 21 new areas of environmental crimes which are to carry £100 fine each. These include littering from vehicles, depositing builder’s skip on highway without permission, failure to secure lighting or other marking of builder’s skip, failure to secure marking of builder’s skip with name and address  and failure to secure removal of builder’s skip.
The council claims that ‘the scheme is there to seek compliance and to improve the highways and environment, not as a money maker’ though ‘some income will be generated initially from the implementation of the regime’.

Harrow has started its Covid-19 vaccination programme, mainly using Pfizer-BioNTech which needs 2 shots, 21 days apart. The shot is given in the muscle of the upper arm.
The vaccination reduces the chances of suffering from Covid-19 but it takes a few weeks for the body to build up protection from the vaccine. So it is important to follow up the guidance to avoid catching/ spreading the infection.
Following is a typical feedback on having the vaccination.
‘Being a Harrow resident from a vaccination priority group, GP arranged my vaccination at the Hive Stadium, Camrose Ave, Edgware.
The vaccination has been very well organised. The vaccination centre is helpfully sign-posted, outside/inside the Hive. Equally helpful are the volunteers who are at the car park (free car parking token given) and inside the vaccination centre, helpfully guiding through the process of registration, to the vaccination stations and in seeking the follow up appointment for the second shot.
The vaccination desks and the seating are well arranged –  provide comfy and safe environment. The nurse doing the vaccination is cheerful, thoroughly explained the vaccination process and the follow up procedures. The injection itself took only few seconds and was painless. Noticed at least one doctor in attendance.
After the injection and booking next appointment, there is a period of ten minutes to sit and relax before leaving the vaccination centre (two wall clocks have been placed to obverse ten minutes). The experience of vaccination has been smooth and positive.’
In term of improvement, perhaps a feedback form at the centre would be a helpful addition, particularly to occupy the vaccination takers while they stay for ten minutes after the vaccination.
There are few other vaccination centres in Harrow, including Harrow Leisure Centre’s Byron Hall, in Christchurch Avenue, Wealdstone.
In Harrow 14,621 total cases to 12 January and 462 coronavirus-related deaths registered to 1 January.

A survey found that 72% household, the equivalent of 20 million, across the UK fear an increase in their energy usage during the lockdown and that they face an average increase of over £32 per month in energy bills.
Demand is growing that the government must do more to help people cope with rising fuel bills this winter as they stay in more and work from home during the lockdown.
“Staying home in January and February as temperatures drop to below zero means even higher fuel bills. The Government needs to expand the winter fuel payment scheme to all those on a low income to ensure that families do not have to make the difficult choice between eating and heating” asks Cllr Pamela Fitzpatrick (photo), a leading founder of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour Councillors and Harrow East parliamentary candidate in 2019.
Even before the outbreak of Covid-19 hundreds of thousands of people were already struggling with energy bills. What the coronavirus crisis does in addition to increasing energy usage for those at home, is to create an uncertainty and insecurity of income for workers. There is a real risk these higher prices will fall heaviest on those least able to pay.
“The Government mishandling of the COVID 19 crisis means that we find ourselves in no better a situation than at the start of the pandemic. Many people have lost their jobs or on reduced pay and the crisis has vividly exposed the problems ordinary working people face with the combination of insecure low paid work and an inadequate benefit system” Ms Fitzpatrick said.
The survey found that for those working from home, there is growing financial anxiety, as almost half (44%) worry that working from home will lead to unaffordable energy bills.
Would Harrow MPs and the council follow the lead, and ask the government to expand the winter fuel payment scheme to all those on a low income?
Wonder why the ‘selected’ Labour leader Starmer is not pressing government hard to meaningfully deal with the coronavirus and its adverse socio-economic impact on the quality of people lives but then he seems more keen on frequently saying ‘Labour supports the government’!

In GP workload prioritisation, Harrow is in the BMA defined  level 5 (highest) emergency response where all non-essential work stopped to allow general practice to cope with very significant demands relating to COVID-19, acute deterioration in long term conditions and new symptoms indicating potentially serious disease.
The text message from local GP practices on 1^st January confirmed about a reduced range of general practice services in Harrow.
Since then, following is a summary of the feedback from some Harrow GPs:
‘It is true, most of the non urgent and community services have been suspended, this is because hospital staff have been redeployed to cover essential /urgent and Covid-19 units as well as there are a significant number staff members being ill.
Non Covid hospital services are adversely affected, for example, orthopaedic units and orthopaedic theatres are closed for non urgent work like hip replacement.
Hospitals (secondary care) stopped accepting referral from us a while back, anyhow, not only because of the pandemic but as hospital won’t have responsibility if something happens to patients while waiting for treatment. Also they don’t have waiting list any more, except the ones before the pandemic.
We can only refer patient who may have cancer, or very urgent, like chest pain’.
No matter how the NHS England performance is looked at, government approach ‘save money than lives’ to health care becomes obvious, as confirmed that while long-term under resourced NHS just coped  before pandemic but is now crumbling under Covid-19 pressure – lack of staff, equipment (even Oxygen masks), medical aids etc – ‘Imagine the scenes where you have to ration oxygen, have no staff and those that are there are exhausted’, a doctor on social media has summarised.
Harrow has total 11,819 cases to 4 Jan.

Tory appointed London assembly member Susan Hall, a Harrow councillor enjoying full council allowances while participating little in the work of the council, uses her City Hall position to gain publicity.
Her individual  targeting, practised while leading Tory opposition in Harrow, continues; now attacking London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who faced the worst Tory racist campaign in 2016 London mayor election, for taking interest in the wider welfare of Londoners.
During a very recent interview with an online right-wing newspaper, Hall unduly criticised the London Mayor’s handling of the Met Police finances. She also questioned what the ‘personality colour test’ carried out by officers in 2018 achieved for the police officials that took part in the course.
[the personality colour test, widely used in commerce and industry,  asks a series of questions to rate likes and dislikes leading to well recognised personality grading, all to maximise professionalism]
The test was initially carried out as part of a five-day workshop on communication and engagement in view of popular view to early detect and address any heavy-handedness/discriminatory tendencies in the Met.
A spokesman for the London mayor dismissed Hall’s claim of inappropriate use of the police funding for ‘personality colour test’ and said: “This claim is absolute nonsense”.
“A comprehensive training package covering a whole range of areas is being delivered to more than 10,000 officers”.
But of course such a training programme has not seen favourably by the elements that oppose ‘black lives matter’ movement and do not like measures for better policing.
Regarding the police funding management generally, the mayor has not only used the funds very wisely but also provided further City Hall funding to help protect police officer numbers over the next year, though still facing huge financial challenges because the government refuses to refund City Hall and the Met for costs and lost income as a result of the pandemic.
Hall also criticised that “As a Mayor, all he ever does is talks about things he cannot affect like Brexit.”
In responding to her toxicity, a spokesman for the Mayor of London said: “Sadiq makes no apology whatsoever for standing up for London.
“Whether it is defending the capital from the impact of Brexit, holding the Government to account over its mishandling of COVID-19, or killing off the worst Government proposals to hit Londoners in the pocket in return for a TfL funding deal, the Mayor will always put the capital first.”

On the first day of 2021, a text message from GP surgeries informs about a reduced range of general practice services in Harrow: ‘all GPs have been asked to STOP any non-essential work – any routine referrals to the hospital cannot be done at present as hospitals are NOT processing any new referrals. Some essential blood test monitoring may continue’.
This is top level 5 emergency response where all non-essential work stopped to allow general practice to cope with very significant demand relating to COVID-19, acute deterioration in long term conditions and new symptoms indicating potentially serious disease.
But the same BMA COVID-19: toolkit for GPs and GP practices also says: Under the GMS contract, practices have a responsibility to provide services to your registered patients and it is for practices to decide how best to do so. COVID-19 does not in any way negate this requirement.
The level 5 emergency sits well with the Harrow COVID-19 situation – 10,588 total coronavirus cases (to 31 De) – mostly in 0-59 years and 438 coronavirus-related deaths registered to 18 December.
Despite such an alarming COVID-19 situation, Harrow is one of the ten London local authorities that Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has asked to reopen primary schools next week. There has been a wider reaction to his irrational decision, including a letter to him signed by leaders of all of those boroughs.
In a separate move, a Harrow council letter to Harrow primary schools tells:  ‘we have taken decision to advise our schools to move to online learning for most pupils next week’! [UPDATE 8pm: now in a late u-turn education secretary has announced that primary  schools in all London local authorities will not reopen next week]
The government failures in containing and treating coronavirus already have serious implications, including for Harrow.
For example, massive publicity with significant shortcomings and implications: ‘if feeling unwell with just one of the symptoms of Covid, call 119 to get tested, if the test positive, follow the rules and self-isolate for 10 days’ – because ‘there is no medicine or cure for the virus’ without due emphasis that though there is no cure for the coronavirus as such, the damages to the organs caused by the infection can be medically managed. Such an ill information and omission could only be seen as a political decision to keep pressure off the NHS England which has been suffering from the lack of resources!
The prescribed ‘isolation’ with no medical treatment for ten days mostly results in developing shortness of breath or fall in oxygen saturation, damaging lungs and other vital organs. Since main casualties occur in late presenters to the hospital treatment, medical treatment in the first few days rather than after 10 days of the corona symptoms should have been prioritised, but then consideration seems to be ‘save money rather than lives’!

Harrow Labours are questioning why the lives of Harrow residents are less important, as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced children can go to schools in Harrow but not if they are in schools in Barnet, Brent or Hillingdon.
Harrow is now a Tier 4 where over 150 new cases of covid-19 diagnosed in Harrow every day compared to only 50 previously. Harrow council reported ‘as of 13/12/20, Harrow had the 10th highest rate in London and 39th highest nationally’. [1,990 cases in the latest week 20 Dec-26 Dec, +480 compared with the previous week, 10,266 total cases to 30 Dec]
Number of corona deaths remains a serious concern (438 as of 18 Dec).
“Why is Bob Blackman not standing up for residents in Harrow while schools in neighbouring boroughs are allowed to delay opening to protect lives – just like Eaton, Harrow residents are being out at risk – how shameful?” said Cllr Pamela Fitzpatrick, Labour Harrow East parliamentary candidate in 2019.
“The Government want schools in 13 London boroughs to open next week and 22 delays. There is no explanation, no rational – this government is playing with our lives and has really outdone itself this time” she added.
Harrow East Tory MP Blackman remains silent about Harrow schools reopening despite it poses higher risk of coronavirus spread but of course he is busy in celebrating Brexit: “Great news to help the recovery process from Covid19 and rebuild our economy on the back of the Trade Deal” he tweeted after his Commons vote.
In a separate move, Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas has asked minister for School Standards Nick Gibb to explain and review why Harrow not on the list of the areas where primary schools face a delayed return yet all neighbouring boroughs are, even though Harrow shares same NHS Trust and the infection rates are similar.
UPDATE: soon after our article (8.30pm), now Bob Blackman (10.30pm) has asked Gibbs why Harrow excluded from list of boroughs where primary schools will be closed next week.

A variety of campaigners have been calling on Harrow Council’s planning regime to reject the planning application to build residential units at 265 The Ridgeway, Harrow, a wider green corridor full of wildlife.
The campaigners argue that the development is not in keeping with the local area, will have a detrimental impact on the local neighbourhood, park and allotments.
Regarding the environment damage already taking place, Emma Wallace, Green Party GLA candidate for Brent and Harrow reported “On the morning of Saturday 19th December 2020, a team of volunteers arrived at the Pavilion site, 265 The Ridgeway with chainsaws and chopped down the trees and foliage in the green corridor running North of the site boundary.  The group of volunteers behind this were Harrow Gospel Hall Trust, otherwise known as the Brethren”.
West Harrow Cllr Adam Swersky (Lab) tweeted: ‘Worst thing I’ve seen in 6 years as a cllr – demolition of a whole tree line by volunteers (incl kids) with chainsaws acting for a religious group who have a major planning application on the site. Ignored me and Council officers – said they were just “doing a job”. Appalling.’
Whilst a decision by the Council planning committee has been delayed until early 2021, Harrow Council is not considered being supportive of local campaigners.  Indeed, when Harrow Council was asked for comment after the act of wildlife vandalism on Saturday, their response was that Brethren were in their legal right.
“I am calling on Harrow Council to do the right thing and reject this short-sighted and hugely detrimental development in West Harrow.  Harrow Council must do all it can to preserve green spaces in borough, in line with its Climate Change Strategy” Ms Wallace said.
“It is completely out-of-keeping with the rest of the low-level area and will have a negative impact on local wildlife, surrounding green spaces, local residents, as well as the roads and local infrastructure” she added.

In announcing the project for the New Year, previous Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn MP said “We need solidarity beyond our borders and across communities to solve our common problems together.”
The Peace and Justice Project will work with labour and social movements, providing platforms to those campaigning for change for the many, not the few.
The project to bring people together for social and economic justice, peace, and human rights, in Britain and across the world, is widely welcomed, including by Harrow socialists.
“The peace and justice project is a very timely initiative. The world is in a parlous state and COVID19 has cast stark new light on the inequality and injustice surrounding us” said Harrow councillor Pamela Fitzpatrick, a leading founder of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour Councillors.
“Jeremy Corbyn is a politician who is genuinely altruistic and has been a powerful campaigner for peace and justice for decades. I very much welcome this exciting initiative” she added.
The project aims to challenge the skewed distribution of wealth and power at home and overseas, and the ways it manifests including tax avoidance, privatisation, low pay, restrictions on workers’ rights and trade unions, and how economies are structured.
Other aims of the project include: drawing attention to issues including the arms trade, nuclear proliferation, military expansion and intervention, peace-building and human rights. Campaign for urgent action on the climate emergency.  To support movements for democracy and people’s right to self-determination across the world including in Palestine and the Middle East, Sri Lanka, Kashmir, and Latin America.
Strong feelings like those expressed by the Labour MP Richard Burgon about the Labour inadequacies in the Commons, highlight the need for counter initiatives like the Project.
[After a Commons vote where Labour MPs whipped by the leadership to abstain on the vote, Richard Burgan said: “disappointed that our party didn’t use its parliamentary weight to try to force concessions on sick pay. Had Labour threatened to vote against the package without proper sick pay, it could have won both public support and important extra support for those who need to isolate. Bold opposition to the government’s failing coronavirus strategy is certainly in the national interest – and the demand for proper sick pay should be at the core of our opposition over the coming months”]
The high profile project’s aims and objectives which feel like a political party manifesto, are  particularly valued at a time when many suspect that legally flawed ‘Labour antisemitism’ report enables Keir Starmer’s recent purge against Corbyn and rest of Labour left.
The Project reminds of the Co-operative Party formation on the reformist agenda which since 1927 has an electoral agreement with Labour Party.

Car park and tennis courts at Harrow Weald Recreation Ground is now open as an additional  walk-through COVID-19 testing centre as cases continue to rise rapidly in Harrow (20,964 cases as of 10 December and 599 deaths).
In view of such an alarming situation, action has been taken to stop the trend, which has seen an almost 60% jump in the rate of infection in the week to 4th December 2020.
Harrow is now higher than the national average with urgent action needed to control the spread.
Strict safety control measures will be in place for those attending the test centre: face coverings must be worn and social distancing followed at all times.
There will also be a 24-hour security team at the site. The testing site is by appointment and to book a test people should go to https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call NHS 119.
Other test centres have been at Brigade Close Car Park opposite South Harrow Police Station, and the Edgware testing centre at Watling Community Centre, Orange Hill Road, HA8 0TR
Cllr Graham Henson, Leader of Harrow Council, said: “Cases are continuing to rise in Harrow as well as the rest of London at an alarming rate – this new walk-through centre is a vitally important part of our efforts to stop the spread of the virus and save lives.”  
“With Harrow now above the national average it has never been more urgent for us to strictly follow the rules and guidance in place – and take all sensible precautions to protect ourselves, our friends and our family and slow the spread of the Covid-19” he said.