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)

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Activity Timeline

Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.

55 meetings · Page 3 of 11

Cabinet Role: Member

Cabinet - Tuesday 16 September 2025 6.30 pm

The Harrow Council Cabinet met on 16 September 2025, and made decisions on social housing, local planning, and budget monitoring. The cabinet agreed to consult on proposed modifications to the Harrow Local Plan, approved a change of contractor for a social housing decarbonisation project, and discussed measures to address budget overspends in social care and housing.

September 16, 2025
Pension Fund Committee Role: Chair

Pension Fund Committee - Monday 8 September 2025 6.30 pm

The Harrow Council Pension Fund Committee met on 8 September 2025, and among the items discussed was the approval of a draft responsible investment policy with a target of net zero emissions by 2050, and the setting of actuarial assumptions for the 2025 triennial valuation, including increasing the prudence level for the discount rate assumption from 70% to 80%. The committee also reviewed the fund's performance, noting underperformance against benchmarks over various periods, and received updates on investment pooling and the London Collective Investment Vehicle (LCIV).

September 08, 2025
Employees' Consultative Forum POSTPONED Role: Member

the Employees' Consultative Forum of Harrow Council

This meeting has been postponed.

July 30, 2025
Performance and Finance Scrutiny Sub-Committee Role: Guest

Performance and Finance Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Tuesday 29 July 2025 6.30 pm

The Performance and Finance Scrutiny Sub-Committee met on Tuesday 29 July 2025, to discuss the Revenue and Capital Monitoring Final Outturn Report for 2024-25, and the Strategic Performance Report for Quarter Four of the same year, and to set targets for the coming years. The sub-committee noted the 2024-25 financial outturn position, and considered the Strategic Performance Report, including proposed indicators and targets for 2025-26 to 2027-28.

July 29, 2025
Cabinet Role: Member

Cabinet - Thursday 24 July 2025 6.30 pm

The Harrow Council Cabinet met in July to discuss several key issues, including budget performance, property licensing, and the council's response to a recent inspection of children's services. The cabinet approved recommendations on adult social care, property management, and community safety, and noted reports on financial performance and scrutiny projects.

July 24, 2025

Decisions from Meetings

113 decisions · Page 1 of 23

Calculation of the Council Tax Base for 2026-2027

From: Cabinet - Thursday 18 December 2025 6.30 pm - December 18, 2025

...to approve a Council Tax Base for 2026-2027 of 90,629 Band D equivalent properties, reflecting a 98% expected collection rate and incorporating a decision to maintain the existing localised Council Tax Support scheme.

Recommendations Approved

Revenue & Capital Budget Monitoring Report Q2 2025-26

From: Cabinet - Thursday 18 December 2025 6.30 pm - December 18, 2025

... to note the forecast revenue and capital outturn positions for 2025-26 and to approve amendments to the Capital Programme, subject to call-in.

Recommendations Approved

Treasury Management Mid-Year Report 2025/26

From: Cabinet - Thursday 18 December 2025 6.30 pm - December 18, 2025

...to note the Mid-Year Treasury Management position for 2025/26, including the capital programme's progress, treasury limits, and prudential indicators, as detailed in the Treasury Management Mid-Year Report.

Recommendations Approved

Mote Mews construction works

From: Cabinet - Thursday 18 December 2025 6.30 pm - December 18, 2025

... the Cabinet of Harrow approved the budget and authorized entering into a contract to complete the Mote Mews construction works, including a virement of £750,000 from the unallocated wider regeneration capital budget and a direct award of the contract to the original subcontractors.

Recommendations Approved

Estimated Surplus / (Deficit) on the Collection Fund 2026-2027

From: Cabinet - Thursday 18 December 2025 6.30 pm - December 18, 2025

...to facilitate appropriate transfers to the general fund, the Cabinet approved the estimated £0.443m surplus for Council Tax and £0.859m deficit for Business Rates on the Collection Fund as of March 31, 2026, and Harrow's share of these amounts.

Recommendations Approved

Summary

Meetings Attended: 55

Average per Month: 2.6

Decisions Recorded: 113