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.

Ofsted tightens focus on SEND: providers warned to raise inclusion standards

Ofsted has signalled a tougher stance on inclusion and SEND provision under its renewed inspection framework, warning that schools and education providers will now face closer scrutiny of how they meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
In a detailed response to Harrow Monitoring Group’s publication, Rebuilding on Weak Foundations – A Critical Review of SEND Policy in England, Ofsted’s National Director for Education, Lee Owston HMI, confirmed that inclusion is now “at the heart of our reforms,” with inspectors expected to probe not only classroom practice but also leadership, culture, and parental engagement.
“If you get it right for the most vulnerable, you get it right for everyone,” Mr Owston said, quoting His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver. “Inclusion must become the norm.”
“It is important to note that many of the issues you raise were taken into consideration when we designed our renewed framework” Mr Owston letter said.
Under the new inspection framework, Ofsted will look for:
Curricula and teaching based on the best available evidence for supporting pupils with SEND.
Behaviour and attendance policies that reflect the particular challenges faced by SEND learners.
A whole-school approach to inclusion, ensuring accurate identification and timely support.
Equal access for SEND pupils to enrichment and extracurricular opportunities.
Mr Owston said inspectors have been trained to recognise that pupils with SEND are “not a homogenous group,” stressing that inspection teams will expect to see ambition and high expectations for every learner.
He added that parental involvement is now a key element of inspection, with leaders expected to demonstrate how they collaborate with families and use their insights to shape provision. Ofsted’s inspection of initial teacher education will also check that new teachers are confident in meeting diverse needs.
The changes form part of a wider reform effort by Ofsted, which continues to carry out joint area SEND inspections with the Care Quality Commission. Owston acknowledged that inspectors still find “delays, inconsistencies and adversarial relationships” in some local areas but said strong, collaborative practice is also being recognised and shared nationally.
The message from Ofsted is clear: inclusion is no longer optional. As inspections become more rigorous, SEND providers and school leaders must ensure their policies, culture, and classroom practice stand up to sharper evaluation.

Harrow children’s services still in recovery

Harrow’s latest HMI monitoring visit paints a picture of a service on the mend – but not yet out of intensive care. Inspectors found that the Leaving Care Service has made “significant progress” since January, with leaders showing honesty, determination, and a renewed focus on caring for their young people. Yet beneath the optimism lies a quieter reality: this is a service still in recovery, not yet in full health.
The council is under Department for Education Improvement Notice, following the Harrow’s children’s services being overall judged to be inadequate by Ofsted early this year.
The monitoring inspectors commended the council’s leadership for “reshaping the Leaving Care Service” and building a more caring culture. Personal Advisers (PAs) were praised for their passion and persistence, and care leavers themselves spoke warmly about feeling supported and safe – a marked improvement from the sense of neglect some described earlier in the year.
But the report’s tone – part celebration, part caution – suggests progress built on fragile foundations. The repeated emphasis on stability, permanent recruitment, and a unified strategic plan reveals a workforce still finding its footing. Many PAs are new, and while their enthusiasm is evident, inspectors warned they need time and space to go beyond minimum statutory duties and deliver the depth of care young people deserve.
Harrow Monitoring Group has consistently highlighted that Harrow’s children’s services need a shift in culture and ethos, rather than mere compliance, if they are to deliver genuinely sustainable, caring support. Likewise, councillors would benefit from clearer, more insightful briefings, not optimism, that enable them to make well-informed, confident decisions about the service’s direction.
Visiting inspectors report highlights “some good quality supervision” and “some nice recording,” but those qualifying words – some – hint at inconsistency. Strengths are emerging, but not yet systemic. Leadership oversight has improved, audits are sharper, and data is finally driving performance, yet the need to “enhance quality assurance” and “improve pathway planning” shows there’s still distance to travel before good practice becomes the norm.
What stands out most is the cultural shift: staff speaking with pride again, young people feeling seen, and relationships beginning to heal. That change in tone and trust matters – it’s the human foundation of recovery. But culture alone won’t sustain improvement. Without stable leadership, permanent posts, and joined-up planning, Harrow risks sliding back into the turbulence from which it’s only just emerging.
The inspectors’ message is clear, even if softly delivered: Harrow has turned a corner, but the journey isn’t over. Real recovery means embedding this new energy into systems that endure – not relying on short bursts of goodwill and resilience. The hard work isn’t finished; it’s only just begun.

HMI Monitoring visit

Best Start Grants: ambitious plans, modest means

Best Start grants are delivering £150,000 of funding to Harrow as part of a £12 million national investment, marking what ministers call a transformative step in early education and childcare.
The Best Start initiative promises to roll out 30 hours of government-funded childcare for working parents, saving families up to £7,500 per child per year. It also aims to boost nursery capacity by creating and expanding school-based nurseries, and to end ‘toddler top-up fees’, tackling overcharging on essentials such as nappies. A record uplift to the early years’ pupil premium will also help children most in need to thrive.
In welcoming the grant, Harrow Labour’s shadow portfolio holder for education & children’s services, Cllr Stephen Hickman, has said that the new Best Start Family Hub will give parents the support they need and children the strong foundations they deserve.
However, questions remain about whether £150,000 is enough to make a meaningful difference in Harrow. Critics argue that such a sum may struggle to expand nursery places, sustain staffing, or guarantee quality provision. There are also calls for transparency over how Harrow Council will allocate the funding – how many new childcare places will be created, and how success will be measured.
Local observers say the true test will come in the months ahead: whether childcare providers can scale up staff and deliver improvements without sacrificing quality, and whether central government support continues beyond a one-off grant.