Irrespective of the flow of the Harrow cabinet meeting on 13 October 2016 and how the Tory opposition leader Cllr Hall feels about the council’s regeneration project scheme, her personal attack on the leader of the council Cllr Sachin Shah is unacceptable.
Responding to Cllr Hall’s comment about Cllr Sachin Shah taking his shoes off at the meeting and the way he was sitting, he explained ‘it was part of his upbringing to take his shoes off while sitting’ and asked for an apology from Cllr Hall but she refused in a tweet return.

@SachRShah for commenting that the Leader of #harrow #Council takes his shoes off and sits on his feet during cabinet/or swings his legs-NO

— Susan Hall (@Councillorsuzie) October 13, 2016

This is not the first time that Cllr Hall’s conduct at a meeting has caused concerns, requiring a corrective action. For example, the Standards Assessment Sub-Committee in its meeting on 27 September 2011 suggested that “Councillor Hall may benefit from training in media and interpersonal training and training in holding voluntary groups and public bodies to account” – Decision Notice gov 008-039/ 442202 followed by
Harrow council’s agreed regeneration strategy can only be good as it addresses housing and community needs, including homes for private rent on Council land, new schools, a new Central Library and a new Civic Centre in Wealdstone.
But of course such exciting plans, paid off partly from capital receipts by the end of the development period, are not good enough for Cllr Hall who has been attacking the plans without offering any alternatives.
Further concern is that Cllr Hall’s intrinsic opposition to the regeneration plans is most probably because of her personal reasons.
Cllr Hall has a shop in Wealdstone and the area will form the hub of a wider package of regeneration initiatives which could initially have some unfavourable parking implications for the locality. There is a serious issue about Cllr Hall’s conflict of interest.
Cllr Hall is under the police investigation.
The council chief executive is enthusiastically leading the regeneration programme since his return to the post that was ‘unilaterally and wrongly’ deleted by Cllr Hall’s short-lived administration in late 2013, forcing the chief executive Michael Lockwood to go.
We hope that the council’s agreed decisions would be honoured by all members of the council in the interest of the residents, irrespective of personal reasons or the personality clashes.

It can only be good that the electronic media provides more and better means for the public to know their elected representatives and hold them to account on matters like MP-specific income and expenses, and the use of their position.
In Harrow, Harrow East constituency is well known for headlines concerning MP expenses. For example, regarding the present MP, the Mirror reported last year that Harrow East Tory MP Bob Blackman was ordered to repay more than £1,000 in wrongly-claimed mileage expenses.
Now there are concerns about the status of the fund-raising by the Bob Blackman MP ‘business club’. Seemingly there is no public information about the money raised – income and expenditure or banking – no statement of accounts at the constituency (HECA – Harrow East Conservative Association) or the Westminster level or at the MP’s website.
The well established club which regularly holds fund-raising events is a thriving money generator: for example, last year the Club organised a Diwali Dinner at Premier Banqueting in Wealdstone, attended by the then Mayor of London Boris Johnson and the Tory Mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith as well as 300 paid participants. The event raised over £15,000.
Concerns are also about what influence, if any, was used by the MP Blackman to get his assistant selected as a candidate to contest from the Harrow’s Queensbury ward at the council election in 2018. The assistant Lakshmi Kaul is an Indian occupied Kashmir activist with no obvious interest in Queensbury.
The Harrow East Conservative Association, that nurtures the MP Blackman, selects the council candidates.

Note: Kashmir is a long-standing divide line between India and Pakistan relationships, needing a harmonious and sensitive approach by the global community to resolve the matter.
Most of us in Harrow are proud of our good communal relationships and would like to keep it this way, for example by leaving India and Pakistan situations at the appropriate international level rather than bringing it to Harrow by any political groups and stirring up emotions for political gains.

Burhan Wani’s Killing Brings Kashmir to a Crossroads

Following the EU referendum, the schools are caught up with the politics of Bexit by the implications of school census, immigration, migration and English as an Additional Language (EAL).
Many schools, including in Harrow, have started collecting data on pupils’ country of birth, nationality and level of English proficiency through the school census in line with the national population census, to fulfil the Department for Education requirement.
“The information will be used to help the DfE better understand how children with, for example, English as an additional language, perform in terms of broader learning” informs DfE.
At present, schools record if a pupil speaks EAL or not, worked out on the basis of the language spoken at home rather than pupil’s acquisition of the English language – the information is usually gathered through the admission process where parents are asked “what language is spoken at home” rather than ‘what is the child’s first language’.
From September, schools will not only need to collect information about pupils ‘country of birth’ and the ‘nationality’ but also to assess each EAL pupil’s “proficiency level”, using a new five-point scale, which ranges from A at the bottom and E at the top. This will be passed to the government for analysis.
Each pupil will receive just one grade for their EAL level, combining their reading, written and spoken language proficiency.
The schools are not really trained or resourced to carry out this extensive and rather sensitive work.
Many feel that following Brexit, the government seemingly wants to highlight that there are not enough school places and there is increased demand on the school resources because a lot of foreigners live in the UK, to deflect from the fact that the state schools are not well resourced to start with.
Who knows how else the school census data would be used.
It is very concerning that the politics of immigration and language is hitting our schools in this way.

Many feel that Tories under Councillor Hall’s leadership are not effective opposition in holding the Harrow council administration to account, even in matters like the state of cleanliness in the borough, an area that Cllr Hall shadows.
What is also concerning is that Cllr Hall appears to have no confidence in and iffy working relationships with the chief executive since his return to the post that was ‘unilaterally and wrongly’ deleted by her short-lived administration , forcing the chief executive Michael Lockwood to go.

Understandably, the Tory group finds it very difficult to play a positive role in scrutinising and providing council services because of the unhelpful style of Cllr Hall’s leadership that has also seemingly caused division at the constituency and group levels.
For example, a previous Tory councillor processed out of her standing at the Harrow West Conservative Association, Cllr Hall’s strong hold, seems to be nurtured well by Harrow East Conservative Association which is least likely to be under Cllr Hall’s hold!
West Harrow ward councillor Anjana Patel who lost the council election in 2010, primarily because of the heavy-handed implementation of the controlled parking zone under Cllr Hall’s watch, has been selected candidate for the Belmont ward in Harrow East constituency for the council election in 2018, despite Cllr Hall’s objection which was ruled out as being of ‘personal nature’.
Belmont is a safe Tory ward, once represented by well respected Tory leader of the Harrow council, David Ashton.
It looks that Cllr Hall has to live with her embarrassment and face Anjana Patel soon, like she faces the chief executive,  a perpetual reminder of her helplessness!
The Belmont selection was made possible as a long-standing Belmont councillor, close to Cllr Hall, is now to contest from the unwinnable Labour held Kenton East ward in 2018, most probably on his way out.
On top of all this, Cllr Hall is being investigated by the police
Therefore, no surprise that the Tory group members wish to use their voice to make an impact and aim for change of direction to unite and demonstrate strength to voters (Tory group lost the councils in 2010 and 2014 as well as two by-elections in between, under Cllr Hall’s leadership).
Cllr Hall now leads a highly divided group where 42.31% members of her group did not vote for her at the recent leadership election, contested by Cllr Marilyn Ashton, past chairman and a powerful officer in the Harrow East Conservatives Association.

An unpleasant part of the increased anti-social behaviour is the disrespect for environment including random fly-tipping and litter-throwing.

While the council is trying to cope with this problem, its effectiveness seems to be limited because of the available resources as well as some mismanagement of the resources.
Following is a telling example of how the Environment Enforcement Officers/ASB regime is used in dealing with trivial anti-social matters, showing poor priority order for the best use of the available resources.
We understand that last Sunday, two Harrow council Environment Enforcement Officers issued on the spot fine of £75 each to three members of a Romanian family, apparently for leaving behind a few cigarette butts on the steps of the closed BHS in the Harrow town centre when one of the smokers started coming down the steps – total time of EEOs engagement in this case was about 45 minutes.
Why the EEOs in this case could not simply ask the three smokers to pick up and bin the cigarette butts (which they could have done happily), saving about 90 minutes of their combined time to move around to deal with more pressing aspects of ASB, like covert unlicensed street trading and begging activities, litter building etc? No doubt, such an approach in resolving the matter relating to the three Romanians would have lost the council £225.
The council has started the use of EEO only very recently and has to learn quickly that EEOs are not just money-making mechanical means like the street cameras but are there as a council’s public face to perform a public service, including public education where serving the ASB penalties should not be the first but last resort.
The council says that the Environment Enforcement Officers is good value for money – yes, but most probably in generating income for the council rather than addressing the anti-social behaviour in the borough!

Over the years, external inspections of the youth offending work in Harrow have identified need for significant improvements.
Additionally, we reported concerning over-representation of black youth offenders in the youth offending population last September – one year on, there are no obvious plans to address this.
The wordy Harrow Youth Offending Partnership Youth Justice Plan 2015-2018 – Annual Update – before the council cabinet this week, once again informs:
The most notable difference between local demographics and youth offending demographics can be seen in the Black/African/Caribbean/Black British group. This group are considerably over represented, making up only 12.9% of Harrow’s 10-17 population but 32.4% of the youth offending population in 2014/15. Over the past five years this group have been consistently over represented in youth offending services and the figure had been rising year on year from 26.3% in 2010/11 to 36.8% in 2013/14.
However, the strategic aims for the Youth Offending Teams, the Youth Justice Board set outcome indicators or the key priorities for 2015/18 have no mention of addressing the identified over-representation of black youth offenders.
What is also very concerning is that in defending such an omission and coasting, and justifying the over-representation, the council relies on the overall national situation where black people are over-represented in custodial sentences because of the institutional practices within the criminal justice system.
Although the plan informs that a number of staff involved with youth offenders are from Asian or black background, obviously changing a driver does not make a defective vehicle perform any better!

When Keith Vaz MP, chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, was cutting the ribbon at the opening of a vegetarian care home in Harrow last week, who could have known that his political career would come under hammer within days.
Last Sunday a tabloid claimed that Mr Vaz acquired male prostitutes services and asked one of them to bring Poppers, a sex-enhancing drug used by gay men, which the government wanted to ban.
Mr Vaz reportedly did not comment on the truth or otherwise of the allegations but said he was referring the tabloid’s allegations to his solicitor. He has now stepped down as chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee.
Sun reported that Tory MP Andrew Bridgen published three letters of complaint about Mr Vaz — sent to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, the Charity Commission and the Metropolitan Police.
Mr Vaz’s Silver Star (diabetic charity) London office is in Harrow – some of its Harrow based activities.
It is not the first time that a MP’s sexual life has surfaced, and normally there is a liberal consensus of opinion that sexual habits of MPs are a personal matter.
However, in this case there are some additional concerns:
The home affairs select committee is carrying out an inquiry into prostitution, focusing on the burden of criminality on those who pay for sex. Also, seemingly Mr Vaz argued in parliament that the Poppers should not be included in a list of substances banned by the Psychoactive Substances Act.
The second point is about the characteristic and expectations of Leicester East constituency that Keith Vaz MP represents.
The constituency has one of the highest Asian populations of any British constituency. In the 2001 census two-thirds of the population were non-white and 58% of people described themselves as Asian. Almost a third of the population here are Hindu, although there are also significant number of Muslims and Sikhs.
It is quite understandable that Leicester East community expects high moral standards from its representatives, in line with its dominant socio-cultural norms and values. Therefore, no difficulty in agreeing with the prime minister that ‘people want confidence in their politicians’, a comment she made after the Sunday tabloid report.

Despite an apparent appeal by the leader of the Harrow Labour group not to bring Corbyn-Smith division to the group, the Labour National Executives, seemingly acting upon a local complaint, have suspended an honest Harrow councillor, well known for her support for Jeremy Corbyn and social justice.
The following public tweets by the Headstone South Cllr Pamela Fitzpatrick are self-explanatory:

I a sitting labour councillor and just received an email to suspend me from the labour group for being rude at a meeting.
— Pamela Fitzpatrick (@CllrFitzpatrick) August 28, 2016
No detail is given in my suspension no dates or information about which member I am supposed to have been rude to.
— Pamela Fitzpatrick (@CllrFitzpatrick) August 28, 2016
I signed the Cllr letter supporting Corbyn and spoke with him at one of his rallies. https://t.co/ovVQBTqQwP
— Pamela Fitzpatrick (@CllrFitzpatrick) August 29, 2016
I tried to stop brexit also but I have been suspended despite being elected councillor. https://t.co/9LVq0pJQKv
— Pamela Fitzpatrick (@CllrFitzpatrick) August 29, 2016
Thank you. No MP or other councillors suspended even those retweeting false allegations about Corbyn. https://t.co/yoLFP4NuoZ
— Pamela Fitzpatrick (@CllrFitzpatrick) August 29, 2016

Some Labour councillors, mostly in Harrow East, are actively pro Owen Smith and most probably have a needle for Cllr Fitzpatrick.
In contrast with the Labour NEC taking direct action in a local situation, the Tory Party hierarchy has always turned a blind eye to the Tory group leader Cllr Hall’s doings.

Update (23.01.2017): We now understand that a police file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service in order that a charging decision could be made. It has now been concluded that there is insufficient evidence to give rise to a realistic prospect of a conviction – there will be no further action taken by the Metropolitan Police Service in this case.

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Update: information is that the police “Advice File” has now been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to this matter – 30/11/2016

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Tory opposition group leader Cllr Hall presented the petition ‘Don’t Force Communities out of Wealdstone’ at the Harrow Council meeting on 25 February 2016.
The petition said that the council plans for a new Civic Centre in Wealdstone at the site of the Peel House car park could force out a community banqueting hall (Premier Banqueting ) etc and undermine local businesses.
Cllr Hall said: “It will damage the entire Wealdstone business community”  (i.e. including her own business in the area as well – therefore, the conflict of interest in presenting and supporting the petition)!
The petition was debated at the council meeting but Cllr Hall who has a shop, business interest, in Wealdstone did not declare the pecuniary interest* and remained present during the debate, despite  that non-declaration of pecuniary interest is a criminal offence. Successful prosecutions can result in a fine of £5000 and disqualification for five years from the local council and from other local authorities (page 24).
{The minutes of the council meeting on 25 February 2016 show that Councillor Hall declared only a non-pecuniary interest – item 4(a) under section 143 of the minutes – and debate was held on the content of the petition submitted by Cllr Hall – 145a (i) (ii)}

(* Agenda of the council meetings give councillors an opportunity to declare an interest early in a meeting. Councillors must abide by the rules of disclosure to declare “disclosable pecuniary interests” (page 23) or “DPIs” that include the councillor’s employment, ownership of land, and business interests while other interests are usually non-pecuniary or personal interests. In the case of the pecuniary interest in an agenda item, a councillor would leave the meeting when that item is discussed to give the public confidence in the council’s decision making)
Alongside Cllr Hall being under police investigation, the implications are:
Since the council had decided to move to Wealdstone and acquire the Premier Banqueting premises (through a commercial deal), does the active protest by Cllr Hall against these decisions and her support for the petition  disadvantage the council in acquiring the premises and negotiating a price – and does all this constitute a breach of the councillors code of conduct that requires the councillors not to endanger council’s interests, including its financial interest.
The politicisation of this matter seemingly made the owner of the Premier House to look somewhere else and now a third party is negotiating with the owners of Premier House, with a view to buying the property.
Therefore, the council could finish up paying far more for the property than whatever was previously negotiated, either in matching the price offered by the new bidder or eventually buying the property from the new buyer – a financial loss to the council in any case (taxpayers money).
Did Cllr Hall fail to safeguard the financial interest of the council in this case – another potential reason for the breach of the councillors code of conduct.

While much of public focus has been on the EU referendum, Bexit specific socio-political division across the country and challenges to the political leadership, Health Minister Jeremy Hunt has been busy with a secret plan to force through changes to local NHS services to cut costs.
Sustainability and transformation plans splits England into 44 areas called ‘footprint’ which will be the basis for how the NHS will be run in future. The plans mean that there will never be funding for the NHS at any point in the future sufficient to fund it to current levels of service.
Therefore, reduction in NHS is eminent with cuts to hospital beds, local walk-in centres or family planning services and so on.
It’s hard to say exactly which services in Harrow are at risk, but the leaked plans for one area show the scale of the threat – it includes axing 500 hospital beds and some emergency ambulances.
In 2013, there were 140 full A&E hospitals in England, there will only be 40-70 left after the STPs are completed.
The plans also mean that people will no longer see doctors as a matter of course and the system would be based around patients using vouchers and personal health budgets – a form of ‘self-pay’!