Under Improvement Notice Harrow children’s services need wider safeguarding collaboration

Given that local councils have a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area, it is appropriate to find how they have responded to the government publications ‘Child protection in religious organisations and setting Investigation Report’, and ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’.
Their responsive action could include developing good working relationships with the places of worship to raise awareness about the children safeguarding procedures and good practices, especially as many provide services to children through ‘supplementary schooling’ or ‘out-of-school provision’.
It is not uncommon for the local authorities and the places of worship to work together on child safeguarding by sharing information, collaborating on policies, and ensuring that concerns about child safety are reported and addressed appropriately. This partnership is crucial for creating a safe environment for children within faith communities because effective child protection relies on coordinated action across the community.
We looked for but were unsuccessful in finding how Harrow council has followed up the government’s child protection and safeguarding reports; for example, have they forged any links with the local places of worship.
Therefore, we asked the Harrow council strategic director of children’s services, Parmjit Chahal: “Is there any collaboration between the Harrow council and the Harrow places of worship for creating a safe environment for children within the places of worship? If so, what are the arrangements?”
Apparently, Harrow children’s services regime has no established partnership with the local places of worship regarding safeguarding, but it is reassuring to hear from Parmjit Chahal that “to ensure a robust approach and to support all our faith organisations we will be working with them to remind them of their statutory duties and where needed to provide support to ensure there are up-to-date safeguarding procedures in place.”
There is a good opportunity for the council to do this by including the places of worship in the  safeguarding preventive measures while taking steps to comply with the Improvement Notice requirements.
The Department for Education has issued an Improvement Notice to the Harrow council, following the Harrow’s children’s services being overall judged to be inadequate by Ofsted early this year.
Minister for Children and Families, Jenet Daby MP, in her letter to the leader of the Harrow council, said that on behalf of the Secretary of State, that the department for education has issued the London Borough of Harrow with an improvement Notice.
Alan Parnum, a senior civil servant in the Department for Education, elaborated*: “The Secretary of State has chosen to appoint an Adviser to provide advice to the Department for Education and the Council. The Council will work with the Adviser until some such time that the Secretary of State is satisfied that this is no longer required.”
Normally, the appointment of the Improvement Adviser is when the ability to improve is less sure.
Since the Harrow Council spends a significant portion of its budget, two-thirds (66%) or £135 million out of £203 million, on supporting vulnerable, including children, but still needs an Improvement Adviser to put things right, there is a big question about the value for public money.
It looks the Harrow children’s services need a good shake-up, both at officer and Member level. The way the Council Response to the Recent Ofsted Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services has been reported to Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Scrutiny Sub-Committees in July 2025, and readily received by the committee, tends to support this.
The report to the July meeting, not fully stressing the gravity of the external evaluations of the services, described the practicalities and procedural matters (implying all is well except ‘standalone’ care Leavers situation!) but no obvious emphasis on the need for and well-embedded long-term process to improve the culture and ethos of the children’s services, apparent inadequacy of which resulted in the inadequate care for the Leavers in the first place, and which is needed to sustain the intended changes in the organisation and practice of the service, seemingly the undercurrent of the Ofsted report and the reason for the DfE Improvement Notice.
*elaborated

Harrow history: ‘Ugandan Asians’ welcomed

Would be good to mark the 60 years of Harrow council history in terms of the council’s progression over the years rather than raising emotions through sociocultural rhetoric, apparently to attract Reform UK potential voters!
Therefore, we have recently highlighted some of the council’s inceptions, like, the computer services, twinning with Douai and annual united act of Remembrance.
Now we look at another historic journey:  processing in ‘Ugandan Asians’!
Under Cllr Cyril Harrison (Lab) leadership and in a historic move, Harrow council boldly decided to settle in Ugandan Asians in Harrow in the early 1970s, despite national and local hostilities (the argument was that the ‘influx’ of these Asians would put British resources under pressure).
a. In a statement made on behalf of the ‘far-right’ Conservative Monday Club, Ronald Bell stated that “These so-called British Asiatics are no more, no less British than any Indian in the bazaars of Bombay”: The Times – 7 August 1972.
The club was known for its contribution to the Conservative governments, the Conservative Party and the modern British Right, from the Club’s inception in 1961 to the fall of Margaret Thatcher in 1990.
b. On one occasion about three hundred members of right-wing organisations gathered in Heathrow, they held banners and called the airport workers to refuse to handle flights from East Africa, reported The Times on 13 September 1972.
c. The prospect of Ugandan Asians arriving in Harrow was first mentioned in the “Harrow Observer” at the beginning of September 1972, following a meeting of the Council’s Policy and Resources Committee on 31 August 1972.
d. Harrow Observer also reported that the Harrow MPs (Conservative) were of the opinion that Britain could not afford, in the face of persisting social problems, to receive immigrants, and intended to raise the matter before the annual conference of the Conservative party which was due soon (usual Conservative ‘immigration’ card play).
Hugh Dykes, MP for Harrow East, thought that if immigrants were to come, no more than 3 per cent of a local migrant population should be received – (Harrow Observer, 5 September 1972)
Hugh Dykes added that: “It would be madness for us to take many thousands of Ugandan Asians… It would also be unfair to Ugandan Asians to come into Britain in an atmosphere of fear and hostility”.
Interesting that now the Conservative MP for Harrow East, and the Harrow council administration that gained Harrow East ward seats, are in place because of the ‘Asians’ (according to the Census 2021, 42.6% Harrow population is Asians).

Harrow cabinet member for children’s services needs to go!

Minister for Children and Families, Jenet Daby MP, is disappointed that Harrow’s children’s services have overall been judged to be inadequate by Ofsted early this year.
Now the Department for Education has issued an improvement notice to the council – a very serious step.
In her letter to the leader of Harrow council, made public by Gareth Thomas MP for Harrow West, she says:Harrow Council spends a significant portion of its budget, two-thirds (66%) or £135 million out of £203 million, on supporting vulnerable adults and children, but the children’s services still needs an Improvement Advisor which normally is when the ability to improve is less sure.
The cabinet member for the children’s services, Cllr Hitesh Karia, being the executive, has the overall responsibility for this awful state of affairs.
Therefore, it would be professionally sound for the cabinet executive to resign.

Government’s revised NPPF helps Harrow planning regime

In arguing to grant retrospective application for the retention of a three-storey building at 79 Bessborough Road, Harrow  (PL/0952/24), officer report says that the government revised National Planning Policy Framework [NPPF 2024] is a  “material consideration in the determination of this application”  [applications were refused in 2022 for a variety of reasons].
The revised NPPF aims to strengthen the local planning regime by providing clearer guidance and mandatory requirements for housing delivery, green belt development, and strategic planning. Key changes include restoring the five-year housing land supply rule, introducing “grey belt” land designations, and emphasizing “golden rules” for green belt development. These changes are intended to drive local authorities to update their plans and deliver more housing while addressing specific community needs.
Good to see a government’s helpful move being recognised, otherwise the present Harrow council administration shies away from appreciating the Labour government policies and provisions to benefit the public. For example, no enthusiasm about:
The government has announced a new crackdown on fly-tippers, with tougher sentences of up to five years in prison for those found illicitly transporting waste.
Under the new powers to local councils to combat fly-tipping, councils will work with the police to identify, seize and crush vehicles of waste criminals. Drones and mobile CCTV cameras will be deployed to identify cars and vans belonging to fly-tippers so they can be destroyed.
Harrow administration lead for environment Cllr Pritesh Patel was asked how this would help the council to combating fly-tipping – he was not able to respond!
Five schools in South Harrow, Hatch End, Wealdstone and Stanmore to benefit from the £1.2 billion of funding for school infrastructure through the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) funding, announced some days before.
Cllr Hitesh Karia, Harrow administration’s education lead, was asked for comment regarding this vital government funding for Harrow – he has not been able to respond.
Approximately 15,000 properties in Harrow will receive the energy price cut through the government announced Warm Home Discount expansion.
“We look forward to seeing how the Warm Homes Discount expansion, in addition to the rolling out of free school meals, breakfast clubs and childcare support, helps support families in Harrow” prompted labour group leader Cllr David Perry.
But Harrow council administration is silent!

Remembering Grenfell – but in Harrow?

Around 5,000 people, including bereaved families, survivors, gathered in west London on Saturday to mark the 8th anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Under London mayor direction, Trafalgar Square was lit in green to honour lives lost in the Grenfell Tower fire and the bereaved, survivors and residents whose lives were changed forever.
However, there are concerns that the Met Police investigation into what led to the “avoidable” tragedy in 2017 which claimed the lives of 72 people, including 18 children and representing wider diversity, is still ongoing despite public demand, from the beginning, to know why it happened.(2017video)Many families and survivors believe the tower should stay until there are criminal prosecutions, but in September, work will begin to take down the 23-storey building, so this year’s eighth anniversary is especially moving.
Therefore, several London councils have meaningfully marked the anniversary, like by light up town halls green.
But in Harrow, the Harrow council only had a brief mention of the ‘tragedy’ on the Facebook which has 31 likes, including by few good-hearted Conservative councillors but not by the Conservative group leadership. Likewise, there is no Grenfell public statement by the leadership (as of 16/6 at 14.40 am). The council leader’s PR letter is days away!
Many in Harrow have strong feelings for the Grenfell victims, being from the same diverse background.
It looks, Harrow administration’s response to diversity-specific disturbing matters, varies.

NHS waiting list falling

The NHS data published on 12 June 2025 show that NHS waiting list has fallen to its lowest level in two years as health chiefs hailed staff for continuing to tackle demand and drive progress for patients.
The waiting list has fallen to 7.39 million, down from 7.42 million – the first time the waiting list has seen a reduction in April in 17 years (excluding the first year of the pandemic).
The NHS in London is also making progress in reducing the treatment waiting lists, with a growing proportion of patients waiting less than 18 weeks.
In May 2025, 61.1% of Londoners awaiting treatment were on the waiting list for less than 18 weeks. This is the highest proportion since November 2023. The NHS is working towards the 92% 18-week standard by March 2029.
In the local context, hopefully the London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, which operates four hospitals including Northwick Park, Ealing, and Central Middlesex, and where most of the Brent and Harrow patients go for hospital treatment, would be able to reduce the waiting list.
The Trust has been identified as having some of the longest waiting times for operations in London. A significant portion of their patients (over half) are waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment.
Commenting on the falling waiting list, Gareth Thomas, Labour MP for Harrow West, said: “After the Tories left waiting lists at a record high and patient satisfaction at a record low, hundreds of people across the borough were stuck left waiting for treatment”.
“That’s why falling waiting lists across London and across the country is such good news, as this Labour Government puts the NHS on the road to recovery”, he added.

Harrow land use needs rethinking, ‘putting residents first’!

Since Harrow council administration is participating in a review of London’s green belt led by Sir Sadiq Khan’s office, would they be rethinking about the Harrow’s Core Strategy and Local Plan?
This becomes pertinent as the review aims to assess and potentially revise the green belt designation in London, including areas within Harrow.
The mayor of London says current rules prohibiting development on green belt land are “wrong, out-of-date and simply unsustainable”, as the demand for housing increases.
Harrow’s Green Belt covers around 11 square kilometres (1088 hectares), equivalent to eight Hyde Parks and about one fifth of the Borough’s total area, given rise to an imbalance where there are ample green areas but inadequate housing.
Harrow is experiencing a severe housing crisis characterized by insufficient affordable housing, high rents, and increasing homelessness, resulting in a growing number of residents in temporary accommodation, causing a significant pressure on the Harrow council budget.
In 2024, Harrow had 2,163 households on their social housing waiting list, with an increased number of those deemed homeless.
In the context of local planning, a core strategy document is a key document in a local plan that sets out the overall vision and strategic direction for a local authority’s area, guiding future development and land use. It serves as the foundation for other local development documents like Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).
In view of the Harrow’s changed population profile and many inner-city indicators, local town and country planning could do with a well-balanced and realistic approach between retaining green areas in the borough and meeting the local needs, including the housing demand, within the context of ‘putting residents first’!

Harrow’s green belt and homelessness!

Good that, unlike the rest of the Tory London councils (four), Harrow is participating in a review of London’s green belt led by Sir Sadiq Khan’s office. The review aims to assess and potentially revise the green belt designation in London, including areas within Harrow.
The mayor of London says current rules prohibiting development on green belt land are “wrong, out-of-date and simply unsustainable”, as the demand for housing increases.
Harrow’s Green Belt covers around 11 square kilometres (1088 hectares), equivalent to eight Hyde Parks and about one fifth of the Borough’s total area.
Harrow is experiencing a severe housing crisis characterized by insufficient affordable housing, high rents, and increasing homelessness. This crisis has led to a growing number of residents in temporary accommodation and a rise in the demand for information and advice services.
In 2024, Harrow had 2,163 households on their social housing waiting list with an increased number of those deemed homeless.
Therefore, the Labour opposition on the council welcome a boost to Homelessness Prevention Grant and Household Support Fund from central government – £2.6 million assigned to Harrow as Household Support Fund renewed for an unprecedented extra 12 months.
“Grant funding is desperately needed as Harrow has endured 223% increase in risk of homelessness” they said.
Labour Group Leader, Councillor David Perry, said they are relieved to hear that the Labour government has taken action to tackle the cost of living and homelessness crisis currently gripping Harrow and many parts of London with the recent £10m of grant funding.
“During the past five years, homelessness has ballooned in our capital, forcing thousands of people into temporary accommodation. I am pleased our most vulnerable families will get much needed financial support over the coming 12 months thanks to this package of support” he said.
Leader of the council, Cllr Paul Osborn has informed that the government’s Household Support Fund will continue to fund free school meals during the holidays and set money aside for pensioners on council tax support who will miss out on winter fuel payments as well as to provide food aid and fund a homelessness outreach team.

Could new powers for councils to combat fly-tippers help Harrow waste ‘crisis’?

The government has announced a new crackdown on fly-tippers, with tougher sentences of up to five years in prison for those found illicitly transporting waste.
Under the new powers to local councils to combat fly-tipping, councils will work with the police to identify, seize and crush vehicles of waste criminals. Drones and mobile CCTV cameras will be deployed to identify cars and vans belonging to fly-tippers so they can be destroyed.
Labour group on the Harrow council welcome new powers for councils to combat fly-tippers, amid Harrow’s ongoing “waste crisis”.
On 27 APR 2023, MyLondon reported there have been more than 10,000 reports of fly-tipping in Harrow since April 2022, and the hotspots included Vaughan Road in West Harrow (leader of the Harrow council road).
Since then, the number of incidents has rocketed to a record 12,413 over 2023/24.
The Harrow council Labour group leader councillor David Perry applauded the announcement of tougher enforcement, punishment and sentencing for those who illegally dump waste in Harrow and contribute to our town getting dirtier, but said, “While the Conservative-led Harrow Council have talked a big game on enforcement, unfortunately we are yet to see results on a local level”.
Despite fly-tipping has been on the rise in Harrow over recent years, the Conservative administration shows no enthusiasm about the new powers to tackle fly-tipping.
There is also a serious question whether Harrow council could benefit from the new powers, given the inconsistency of the environment portfolio, very thin enforcement team and seemingly lukewarm relationship with the local police.
Nationally, the Conservative opposition, bewildered by the Reform gains, seem more interested in political point scoring rather than focussing on how best the new powers could be deployed: “And with statistics showing that of the 50 worst local areas for fly-tipping, 72% are Labour controlled, it is clear that voting Labour gets you rubbish and rats” said shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins.