David Ashton - Councillor for Harrow

Councillor David Ashton

Conservative Portfolio Holder for Finance & Highways

Email: david.ashton@harrow.gov.uk

Council: Harrow

Council Profile: View on council website

Committees: Performance and Finance Scrutiny Sub-Committee (Role: Guest) Employees' Consultative Forum (Role: Member) Chief Officers' Employment Panel (Role: Member) Cabinet (Role: Member) Pension Fund Committee (Role: Chair) Council (Role: Member) Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Role: Guest)

Is this you? Claim this page.

Activity Timeline

Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.

55 meetings · Page 1 of 11

Chief Officers' Employment Panel Role: Member

Chief Officers' Employment Panel - Thursday 29 January 2026 5.30 pm

The Chief Officers' Employment Panel is scheduled to consider employment arrangements for the Head of Paid Service (Managing Director). The panel will review options for the recruitment process for this statutory role, which is responsible for the overall management of the council and the delivery of its services.

January 29, 2026, 5:30 pm
Cabinet Role: Member

Cabinet - Thursday 29 January 2026 6.30 pm

The Cabinet of Harrow Council is scheduled to meet on Thursday 29 January 2026, with a key focus on financial planning, housing regeneration, and essential service provision. The meeting agenda includes discussions on the calculation of business rates retention for the upcoming financial year, updates on housing regulatory matters, and proposals for extending existing contracts for estate improvements and water services.

January 29, 2026, 6:30 pm
Employees' Consultative Forum Role: Member

Employees' Consultative Forum - Wednesday 28 January 2026 6.30 pm

The Employees' Consultative Forum was scheduled to discuss the council's draft revenue budget for 2026/27 and its medium-term financial strategy up to 2028/29. Additionally, the forum was set to review the Annual Workforce Profile Report for 2024-2025, which details the council's employee demographics.

January 28, 2026, 6:30 pm
Performance and Finance Scrutiny Sub-Committee Role: Guest

Special Meeting - Draft Budget Report, Performance and Finance Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Thursday 22 January 2026 6.30 pm

The Performance and Finance Scrutiny Sub-Committee was scheduled to discuss the draft revenue budget for the upcoming financial year and the medium-term financial strategy. The meeting's agenda focused on the significant financial planning required to address projected budget gaps and the implications of national funding changes.

January 22, 2026, 6:30 pm
Cabinet Role: Member

Cabinet - Thursday 18 December 2025 6.30 pm

The Cabinet of Harrow Council is scheduled to meet on 18 December 2025 to discuss a range of issues, including budget monitoring, capital programmes, housing, public health, school organisation, and licensing. The Cabinet is expected to review the council's financial performance, consider future budget proposals, and discuss investments in housing and infrastructure projects. Additionally, the Cabinet will look at public health commissioning intentions, school places, and policies related to Houses of Multiple Occupation[^2] (HMO).

December 18, 2025

Decisions from Meetings

113 decisions · Page 17 of 23

Calculation of the Council Tax Base for 2025-2026

From: Cabinet - Tuesday 17 December 2024 6.30 pm - December 17, 2024

...to approve the Council Tax Base for 2025-2026, setting it at 90,843 Band D equivalent properties based on a calculated number of taxable properties and a 98% expected collection rate.

Recommendations Approved

Review of Consultation and adoption/rejection of proposed new Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025/26

From: Cabinet - Tuesday 17 December 2024 6.30 pm - December 17, 2024

... to approve the Council’s revised Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025/26.

Recommendations Approved

Estimated Surplus / (Deficit) on the Collection Fund 2024-2025

From: Cabinet - Tuesday 17 December 2024 6.30 pm - December 17, 2024

...to note an estimated net deficit of £0.304m on the Collection Fund as of March 31, 2025, and to transfer Harrow's deficit share of £0.170m to the General Fund in 2025-26.

Recommendations Approved

Improving adult social care services in Harrow - a response to the recent CQC inspection

From: Cabinet - Tuesday 17 December 2024 6.30 pm - December 17, 2024

...to endorse the proposed approach and priorities for improving adult social care services in response to a recent CQC assessment, with a full Adult Social Care Strategy and plan to be presented for approval by summer 2025.

Recommendations Approved

Mid-year Treasury Management report

From: Cabinet - Tuesday 17 December 2024 6.30 pm - December 17, 2024

Recommendations Approved

Summary

Meetings Attended: 55

Average per Month: 2.6

Decisions Recorded: 113