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 onContinue reading “Harrow’s green belt and homelessness!”

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

Would Harrow deputy mayor behaviour improve when mayor?

Civic responsibility like the mayor or deputy mayor of a borough is a respectable role to be carried out in a dignified manner, like the deputy only has a civic and legal status in the absence of the Mayor.But in Harrow, after the council meeting on 23rd October 2024, the leader of the opposition CllrContinue reading “Would Harrow deputy mayor behaviour improve when mayor?”

Harrow council administration condemns cemetery vandalism but not overtly

The police are investigating criminal damage after 85 graves, mostly children’s, were vandalised in the Muslim section of Carpenders Park cemetery in Watford last week, and are treating this as Islamophobic crime.The cemetery next-door to Harrow is owned by Brent Council but is widely used by the neighbouring boroughs.Such targeted attacks do not take placeContinue reading “Harrow council administration condemns cemetery vandalism but not overtly”

Harrow council work improving but needs better consistency

Good to see recent improvements in the work of the Harrow council, like the street environment around the Harrow Town Centre, proactive planning regime, fewer complaints about the waste collection, and the council website, though not perfect, feels better. However, improvement across the board and the borough remains challenging, particularly as the consistency of theContinue reading “Harrow council work improving but needs better consistency”

£348,000 cost to clear-up fly-tipping at Leisure Centre site

Labour Group leader Cllr David Perry at the Harrow council meeting on 27 February 2025 revealed the £348,000 cost of Leisure Centre site clear-up due to the council ‘neglect’ in fly-tipping enforcement.“Due to a build-up of waste and fly-tipping on the area beside Harrow Leisure Centre, residents will have to pay out for the council’sContinue reading “£348,000 cost to clear-up fly-tipping at Leisure Centre site”

Increased opportunity to tackle rising anti-social behaviour in Harrow

Harrow’s Labour councillors welcome a central government-funded boost to community policing to tackle Harrow’s crime and anti-social behaviour “crisis”. The government will put an extra £100million into neighbourhood policing including 13,000 more police officers on the streets by 2029 as it seeks to fulfil its pledge to put more officers on the ground. More resourcesContinue reading “Increased opportunity to tackle rising anti-social behaviour in Harrow”

Harrow patients would have more and better access to treatment under new plan

Harrow would benefit from the government’s NHS Elective Reform Plan that sets out a whole system approach to hitting the 18-week referral to treatment target by the end of this Parliament. The plan will drive forward progress on the government’s first steps commitment to deliver 2 million extra appointments in its first year, equivalent toContinue reading “Harrow patients would have more and better access to treatment under new plan”

Mayor of Harrow’s Charity Fund needs transparency

Many councils have, but Harrow council has no known formal guidelines for choosing the mayor’s charity or ensuring transparency of Harrow’s Charity Fund, a charity (number 219034). This has serious implications. It is doubtful whether the council officers established the soundness of this mayor’s chosen charity as required. Despite a requirement, Harrow mayor’s charity numberContinue reading “Mayor of Harrow’s Charity Fund needs transparency”