The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Harrow Council met on Tuesday 8 July 2025 for a question and answer session with the Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Osborn, and the Managing Director, Alex. The meeting focused on the council's recent achievements, ongoing challenges, and future plans, with discussions covering financial performance, service improvements, and strategic initiatives.

Financial Performance and Service Improvements

Councillor Paul Osborn reported that the council is in a strong financial position, with an underspend of £1.5 million for the current year, contrasting favourably with many other London boroughs facing significant overspends. He highlighted improvements in street cleaning, including a second shift operating into the evening in town centres and increased collections in parks with larger bins. Road maintenance has seen a substantial increase in pothole repairs, with 7,000 more potholes filled compared to previous years, supported by a new roads maintenance programme and increased investment. A new graffiti removal service, dubbed Grindbusters, has also been launched and is reportedly making a positive impact. The council is also investing in its public realm, with upcoming news regarding parks.

Challenges and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Provision

Despite these successes, the council faces ongoing challenges, particularly in temporary accommodation and increasing demands on adult social care. A significant concern is the pause in funding for a proposed special needs school, which has been delayed until the autumn pending clarity from central government. This delay is particularly disappointing as it could have provided 292 much-needed places for children with special educational needs and disabilities, potentially reducing long daily commutes for these students. The council has secured a site for the school and is hopeful for positive news from the government to proceed.

Corporate Leadership and Management Development

The Managing Director, Alex, announced the establishment of a permanent corporate leadership team, with six strategic directors now in place. To enhance organisational productivity, the council has launched the Harrow Ambition programme in partnership with Bayes Business School. This management development initiative aims to train the top 250 managers, fostering higher quality leadership and improved decision-making regarding finances and service delivery. This programme is seen as a potential game-changer in navigating financial challenges by maximising the efficiency of every pound spent.

Funding Settlements and Council Tax

Discussions also touched upon the national funding settlements and their potential impact on Harrow. While the exact implications are still being assessed, current modelling suggests Harrow will remain broadly unchanged, with potential for slight decreases or increases depending on transition arrangements. The government's working assumption for the next three years is a 5% annual increase in council tax, a measure councils are expected to adopt to maintain their funding levels.

Waste Management and Recycling Initiatives

Councillor June Baxter raised the success of the drop-and-go recycling events in Belmont and North Harrow Wards, noting overwhelmingly positive resident feedback. The council plans to roll out these events to other wards approximately once a month, though finding suitable locations with adequate space for vehicles remains a challenge. To increase capacity, the council is considering reducing appointment slots at the civic amenity site from 30 minutes to 15 minutes, which could create around 200 additional slots per week, particularly beneficial during peak times. The council is also exploring extending the opening hours of the site, subject to licensing and budget considerations, with the overarching aim of preventing fly-tipping by providing ample opportunities for residents to recycle.

CCTV Policy and Public Realm Improvements

The council is developing a CCTV policy, which will be considered by Cabinet in July. This policy is intended to ensure compliance with legal requirements, including GDPR, and establish a more robust process for deploying cameras, particularly mobile ones. In relation to public realm improvements, the council acknowledged issues with planters on College Road being too large for the location and are being repurposed. There is a commitment to increasing greenery across the borough. Concerns were also raised about ongoing road surfacing on Station Road due to multiple leaks, which the council is working with the water company to resolve. The council is also planning to install new kiosks in St Anne's Road and is considering hostile vehicle mitigation measures for pedestrianised areas like St Anne's Road and Havelock Place, acknowledging the need for enhanced security.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) School Funding and Viability

Further discussion on the special needs school highlighted the council's efforts to engage with central government officials regarding funding. While options like utilising the high needs block have been proposed, central government agreement is required and has not yet been secured. The potential impact of a new SEND school on existing school roll numbers was also discussed, with acknowledgement of a London-wide trend of falling birth rates and primary school rolls. The council stated it is not currently at risk of school closures but is monitoring the situation. The financial viability of building a new SEND school was debated, with the council exploring options to fund it internally, potentially through the high needs block, to achieve significant cost savings compared to out-of-borough placements. However, current government rules present a barrier to this approach.

Enforcement and Financial Hardship Policy

The council is enhancing its enforcement efforts, with a new supplier for enforcement services in place since June 30th. While specific figures on fine payments and court processes were not immediately available, the council highlighted its commitment to tackling issues like fly-tipping and has a skilled enforcement team. The existing corporate policy on financial hardship, developed through scrutiny, is being considered in light of rising child poverty and overcrowded housing in Harrow, to ensure that enforcement actions do not lead to destitution.

Supported Living Accommodation

Questions were raised regarding the licensing and notification requirements for privately run supported living houses. While the council does not directly license these facilities, it is investigating potential planning and licensing issues, with a view to ensuring vulnerable individuals are safe and that appropriate checks are in place.

Succession Planning and Management Development

The council is focusing on succession planning and management development to prevent future vacancies from remaining unfilled for extended periods and to retain talent within the organisation. The Harrow Ambition programme with Bayes Business School is a key initiative in this regard. The council prioritises internal recruitment and provides opportunities for staff to act up into senior roles. Discussions also covered the importance of a robust management development strategy to ensure staff skills and capabilities are continuously enhanced, and to address issues of underperformance effectively. The council is also working to reduce sickness absence by improving HR policies and support for managers.

National Insurance Contributions

The council confirmed that the increase in employer's National Insurance contributions is not fully funded by the government settlement, requiring the council to find additional funding. This also impacts suppliers, particularly in adult social care, who may pass on increased costs.

Community Safety and Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)

In response to concerns about rising levels of ASB, the council is reviewing the effectiveness of its community safety plan and exploring additional interventions. The plan, recently approved, acknowledges the potential for increases in crime and ASB, and its impact is being monitored through performance data. The council is committed to developing and implementing new strategies to tackle these issues.