Harrow Council met to discuss a range of issues, including public safety, education, and healthcare. A motion to demand that the Labour government honour the funding commitment for a new special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school in Harrow was approved, while motions opposing the Mayor of London's planned closure of Harrow Police Station's front desk and opposing the Labour Government's closure of Mount Vernon's Urgent Care Unit were both carried.

National Harrow Football Club

Adrian Avalaschia, Maria Diek, and Cesar Siobanu asked questions regarding the National Harrow Football Club (NHFC) and the council's open space policy. The questioners were concerned that the council's reliance on an outdated open space study from 2009 was blocking the club's ability to provide much-needed sports facilities on its site at 74 Pinard View.

Councillor Marilyn Ashton, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Planning & Regeneration, responded that the site was privately owned and correctly designated as open space.

Adrian Avalaschia asked if the inspector confirmed that the open space wording was out of date, would the council commit to updating the evidence base quickly and working with NHFC during that process so the local plan could properly reflect the need to deliver the sports provisions as part of developing the site?

Councillor Paul Osborn, Leader of the Council, responded that the council did not think that the inspector would say that, but if the inspector did ask them to do something, they would, of course, do it and take consultation on doing it before it came to full council.

Leader's Announcements

Councillor Osborn made a number of announcements, including that Chandos Recreation Ground and Riverside Park in Hatch End had been awarded green flags¹, bringing the total number of green flag parks in Harrow to the highest it has ever been. He also announced the results of a residents' survey, which showed that residents' satisfaction with the council was at its highest level since 2007. Other announcements included:

• The Grime Busters service has cleaned 3,448 square metres across the borough since its launch in June.
• The council filled 7,055 potholes in the last financial year, a 730% increase from what Labour managed to do in 2021-2022.
• The council is spending £14 million every year for the next three years on road resurfacing.
• A vehicle towing scheme will start in October to remove foreign registered vehicles where they don't pay penalty charge notices and persistent non-payers.
• The General Inquiries phone line, which was closed by Labour in 2019, will be reopened next week.
• A face-to-face contact point will open by the end of the year in Gaten Road without needing appointments.
• Proposals to fix the issues in Rainer's Lane with double parking and mopeds taking parking spaces will be implemented in November.
• Pinner Village Gardens and Roxbourne Park will be made ready for green flag park status applications in 2026 and 2027 respectively.

Councillor Osborn said:

Madam Mayor, there is a clear difference that a conservative administration can deliver. We see in Edgware the monstrous high-rise buildings that are being proposed that will destroy the community and put at risk the safety with the way they're doing with the bus stops. Madam Mayor, we invest in our roads. We invest in our parks. We are not building ridiculous numbers of tall buildings that will decimate the area. We make it easier to contact the council and we put residents first.

Councillor David Perry, Leader of the Labour Group, raised concerns about road safety in Harrow, referencing a recent road traffic incident outside St. Jerome's School in Station Road. He asked what action had been taken to avoid a reoccurrence. He also asked why there had been absolutely radio silence on local safety improvements to protect local school children in the area attending, despite local councillors in Marlborough and Greenhill having funded a local junction survey to improve the junction experience outside the school and make it safer some time ago.

Councillor Osborn responded that Harrow remains one of the safer places in London for road safety and that traffic officers work with the police to identify the causes of any accident and also any mitigating measures that should be put in place. He added that he hadn't seen any NCIL² application but was very happy to look at it after the meeting and find out what's going on. Councillor Stephen Hickman asked for an update on the proposals to repurpose 265 The Ridgeway. Councillor Osborn responded that he had been on site with officers within the last week to look at the site and that they were making good progress. He hoped to be able to move to have the next council meeting there.

Councillor Krishna Suresh asked about what position action the council is doing to address concerns raised by residents and businesses in Rainer's Lane shopping district about delivery mopeds blocking parking spaces in the area. Councillor Osborn responded that next week they will be coming forward with other ways that will help ensure that both the number of parking spaces are better utilised by having more turnover of parking in Rainer's Lane.

Councillor Anika Shah-Levy asked about the High Street Future Fund investment in the town centre. Councillor Osborn responded that the kiosks are going in in the next few weeks and that they are looking at where they put the benches in. All of these things will come in over the next few months and they hope to have it complete by the end of the year.

Councillor Shah-Levy then asked why the cost of the administration's incompetence in ignoring resident concerns about planned concrete planters in the town centre attracting graffiti, antisocial behaviour, and littering, then eventually removing them due to the aforementioned graffiti, antisocial behaviour, and the littering, had been allowed to rack up to £180,000 worth of wasted taxpayers' money. Councillor Osborn responded that the main cost involved was the cost of the planters and that those planters will be used somewhere else across the borough, either in a park or upper part of the town centre.

Long Service Award - Councillor Jean Lammiman

The council marked Councillor Jean Lammiman's achieving 30 years of service.

Councillor Osborn said that this was the first time in the borough's history that they have done a 30-year recognition. He added that Councillor Lammiman's roles have been significant in the council, including as deputy leader of their group at one stage and as a Cabinet member for a number of roles, and now currently the Adults and Public Health Cabinet member.

Councillor Perry offered his congratulations to Councillor Lammiman, adding that she has always been one to champion adult social care, community culture, and Harrow in Europe.

Councillor Hitesh Karia, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, said that Councillor Lammiman has this wonderful charm that he always remembers and a wonderful ability to delegate things. He added that the 30 years says a lot in terms of all the committees and all the areas that she's been involved in and that her immense amount of knowledge and experience is extremely helpful for them as ward councillors.

Councillor Shah-Levy said that Councillor Lammiman has always taken the time to say hello and to have a chat on a personal level regardless of their political beliefs and that she appreciates it.

Councillor Janet Mote, Portfolio Holder for Community & Culture, said that she remembers years ago when they used to travel to Douai in a coach and that they did bring back the odd bottle of wine and the beer and the chocolates as well from Douai.

Councillor Krishna Suresh said that Councillor Lammiman's 30 years of unwavering commitment to our community is truly commendable and that over the decades she has served not only as a councillor and a cabinet member but also as the first citizen of this borough embodying the true spirit of public service with pride integrity and dedication.

Councillor Mina Parmar, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said that Councillor Lammiman has a wonderful way of keeping spirits up even in the longest of the meetings and that she brings warmth kindness and humour into everything she does.

Councillor Ali said that Councillor Lammiman is always humble approachable and very helpful.

Councillor Kuha Kumaran said that Councillor Lammiman has been a role model to him in many ways and that he has learned a lot about campaigning from her.

Councillor Pritesh Patel, Portfolio Holder for Cleaner Streets & Public Safety, said that Councillor Lammiman is a great observer of people and that she shows up consistently when it matters.

Councillor Govind Bharadia said that Councillor Lammiman is respected across all groups and that everyone speaks so highly of her.

Councillor Stephen Greek, Portfolio Holder for Performance, Communications & Customer Experience, said that Councillor Lammiman has a very friendly and charming exterior but there is a steely determination underneath to stand up for the things that she believes in and to get things done.

Councillor Lammiman thanked everyone for their kind words, adding that she has worked very hard in another hospital to get the services center of excellence and that this is at the other end of the scale, this is for local people.

Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee Annual Report

Councillor Kanti Rabadia moved the recommendation at item 10 on the summons, presenting the 2024-2025 Standards Committee Annual Report. He said that this is an annual report that they present to Council simply just to sort of demonstrate to the Council that the committee has taken its role effectively in the year they are reporting for. He added that the committee has ensured that best practice has been followed throughout their workings and where issues need to be raised they have discussed at length at Committee meetings and the right level of scrutiny and challenge has occurred. The recommendation was agreed.

Questions With Notice

Councillor Perry asked Councillor Ashton does the portfolio holder feel the administration's policy drive to roll out the local areas of special character has been welcomed by residents. Councillor Ashton responded yes.

Councillor Krishna Suresh asked the leader for an update on what position action the council is doing to address concerns raised by residents and businesses in Rainer's Lane shopping district about delivery more pets blocking parking spaces in the area. Councillor Osborn responded that next week they will be announcing as he said in they will also be coming up other ways that will help ensure that both the number of parking spaces are better utilised by having more turnover of parking in Rainer's Lane.

Motions

Motion opposing the Mayor of London's planned closure of Harrow Police Station's Front Desk

Councillor Osborn moved a motion opposing the Mayor of London's planned closure of Harrow Police Station's front desk. The motion noted that this is the only front desk in the borough and that it is a vital community asset which allows the public to easily interact with the police face to face. The motion also noted that the decision has been made due to a £260 million shortfall in the Metropolitan Police's budget and that recent data shows that police numbers in London have fallen by over 1,000 officers. The motion resolved to put on record the council's strong opposition to the closure of Harrow Police Station's Front Desk, to call on Gareth Thomas MP to put pressure on the Mayor of London and Home Secretary to reverse the cuts to policing and properly fund police services in Harrow, and to commend Bob Blackman MP for his campaign and petition to save Harrow Police Station's Front Desk.

Councillor Marilyn Ashton seconded the motion, saying that it is necessary because you need a hub and that this sort of thing closing the only front office that they have is going to cause anxiety.

Councillor Pritesh Patel said that as portfolio holder responsible for public safety he strongly supports this motion opposing the Mayor of London's decision to close the front desk at Harrow Police Station, the only such facility in our borough and is particularly concerning and worrying that there was no consultation not with us not with anybody and this decision just came about from the blue for Harrow residents.

Councillor Peymana Assad said that this motion is just Councillor Osborn playing politics and that he's even forgotten that the Conservatives were in power for the last 14 years. She added that the potential closure of Harrow Police Station's front desk is a direct consequence of Conservative failure and a decade of cuts that have hollowed out our police left officers overstretched and made communities like ours more vulnerable than ever.

Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar said that the proposed closure of Harrow police stations front desk affects our community's trust safety and let's be honest our sanity.

Councillor Graham Henson said that the Labour government has inherited the conservative government left behind the worst set of public finances in living memory crumbling school buildings local authorities pushed to the brink a SEND system nationally that's overstretched fragmented and unsustainable.

Councillor Matthew Goodwin-Freeman said that the Mayor of London is a man who he calls a good friend Sadiq Khan and that he is also London's police and crime commissioner and the last time he checked he was a labour politician and that he is closing his decision as the police and crime commissioner to close 17 police front desk stations in our capital to save just 7 million pounds.

Councillor Govind Bharadia said that the closure of the is not just a matter of convenience it signifies a troubling shift in how we protect our community and maintain our safety for many if we can connect with those who have pledged to serve and protect us.

Councillor Osborn said that most of the labor counselors can't be bothered to talk on this subject and even the leader of the group can't be bothered to even have had every council meeting for the last 15 years.

The motion was carried with 27 votes for and 15 abstentions.

Motion to demand that the Labour Government honours the funding commitment for a new Harrow SEND school

Councillor Osborn moved a motion to demand that the Labour Government honours the funding commitment for a new Harrow SEND school. The motion noted that last year the Conservative administration purchased 265 The Ridgeway to build a new SEND school, that the new school will deliver 292 school places for Harrow children and young people who have severe learning difficulties, and that the previous Conservative government confirmed that it would fund the construction and operation of this new SEND school. The motion resolved to call on the Labour government to honour the funding commitment for a new SEND school, which was agreed by the previous Conservative government, to demand that Gareth Thomas MP use his influence as a minister to get the government to stop dithering and delaying the funding of a new SEND school in Harrow, and to reaffirm our commitment to be a place where those most in need are supported.

Councillor Hitesh Karia seconded the motion, saying that every parent he's spoken to is in Harrow is fully in support of having the special needs school actually being developed and built in Harrow.

Councillor Stephen Hickman moved an amendment to the motion, saying that Labour councillors support the campaign and the creation of a new school in Harrow and that families have waited too long for additional local provision and we recognise how vital that will be for children and young people who need this specialist support.

Councillor Simon Brown seconded the amendment, saying that the SEND system in this country is at breaking point and that change is not optional essential and it should be done in a systematic way.

Councillor Philip Benjamin said that the Labour government has dashed the hope that a new SEN school would finally be funded built and opened in Harrow to serve.

Councillor Zak Wagman said that there are at least 292 children that need to be in this school as soon as possible and that we are all paying for it now not just the council and the residents as Councillor Benjamin said who pay very high costs to transport these children to the specialist education they need often well outside the borough.

Councillor Matthew Goodwin-Freeman said that Labour took over and froze everything and we've heard from Councillor Brown tonight that they won't criticise the government.

Councillor Chetna Halai said that tonight is really about doing the right thing for children who need us today to be clear united and relentless.

Councillor Kanti Rabadia said that our administrations put residents first in this situation as we have always done.

Councillor Osborn said that this proposal would save 14 million pounds a year on placement costs in Harrow alone and that even if we could save one hour on each bit of the journey so two hours every day for these children being transported out of borough that's 484 hours a day that's being wasted that's 2,920 hours a week that's being wasted.

The amendment was lost with 16 votes for and 27 against. The original motion was carried with 27 votes for and 15 abstentions.

Motion to oppose the Labour Government's closure of Mount Vernon's Urgent Care Unit

Councillor Norman Stevenson, Portfolio Holder for Business, Employment & Property, moved a motion to oppose the Labour Government's closure of Mount Vernon's Urgent Care Unit. The motion noted that although it sits within Hillingdon, Mount Vernon's Urgent Care Unit is a fantastic facility that is used by many Harrow residents and that the government proposes to close the Urgent Care Unit at Mount Vernon and integrate it with existing services at Hillingdon Hospital. The motion resolved to oppose the Labour government's plans to close Mount Vernon's Urgent Care Unit, to support and commend David Simmonds MP's campaign to save the Urgent Care Unit, to encourage every single Harrow councillor to sign David Simmonds MP's petition, so that we can send a strong and united message that Harrow does not support the closure of Mount Vernon's Urgent Care Unit, and to call on Harrow's other MPs, Bob Blackman and Gareth Thomas, to support the David Simmonds MP's campaign and condemn the planned closure.

Councillor Jean Lammiman seconded the motion.

Councillor Janet Mote said that she agrees with a lot of what Councillor Stevenson and Councillor Lammiman have said about the urgent care practitioner service at Mount Vernon and that it is a valuable resource for our local residents here in Harrow as well as adjoining areas.

Councillor Perry seconded the amendment, saying that they are demonstrating in paper format publicly their discontent with what is proposed to our political masters.

Councillor Goodwin Freeman said that it is a fantastic facility used by so many Harrow residents and that the Mount Vernon urgent care centre should be kept open to maintain the current level of accessibility and take pressure off of local services.

The motion was carried with 28 votes for and 15 abstentions.

Motion Supporting Young Families and Children in Harrow

Due to time constraints, the remaining items were voted on without debate. A motion supporting young families and children in Harrow was lost with 15 votes for and 27 against.

Urgent Motion

An urgent motion was carried with 27 votes for and 15 abstentions.