One Year On

One year on from Chris Mote

As our first year in control draws to a close, we look back on some notable successes and big improvements to Harrow Council services you use.

The whole of last year was an extremely testing time but, as I hope you will appreciate, an incredibly important period in Harrow’s long history.

When we came to power in May of last year, the Conservatives were faced with an incredibly daunting task: how to wrestle with years of poor budgeting and in turn the pressing need for urgent action to avoid bankruptcy?

We have strived to deliver a tough savings package, set a clear and well-defined medium term budget strategy and maintain services to the highest possible standard.

This has all been done in a difficult financial climate. In addition to the years of neglect, Harrow also suffers from a grossly inadequate government grant, for example, taking all government grants together Harrow receives an average of £145 per head less than its nearest neighbours and £572 per head less than the London average.

As I hope you are all aware, we have been rigorously lobbying central government to ensure Harrow gets a fairer deal and we will continue do so.

I acknowledge that there have been problems with our refuse collection system and for that I apologise. But at the same time I want to congratulate you on taking part in what has been one of the most successful transformations in the capital.

Together, we have improved our recycling rate significantly: moving from 18 per cent to nearly 30 per cent by the last financial year and we will achieve 35 per cent in the current year. This will take us from the bottom five to the top five recycling boroughs in London.

We need to carry on working together to reduce, reuse and recycle as much household waste as possible for the benefit of the environment and to keep the council tax down.

I am particularly pleased that this summer saw high GCSE results for Harrow’s children - coming in the national top 20.

Increasing attainment of our schoolchildren is a top priority. These results are a tremendous achievement for the pupils, their schools and all the staff who support them.

In January of this year, Harrow hosted its first ever UK Youth Parliament elections. Over 4000 votes were cast in a highly successful and professional event involving our electoral services, high schools, colleges, voluntary organisations and faith groups. This is part of our commitment to empowering Harrow’s youth.

Charismatic Dami Olatuyi was the eventual winner and will take his place on the UK Youth Parliament to give Harrow's young people a voice with Risha Khagram acting as his deputy.

The other 10 candidates have been asked to join the new Harrow Youth Council to work with the Authority to ensure that youth issues are central to our focus.

There are exciting times ahead as we develop our fresh ideas into policy and real change. For example, the development of three brand new leisure centres ready for the 2012 Olympics, rebuilding of Gayton library, re-opening Wealdstone High Street to traffic and completely re-developing Harrow town centre.

Finally, as Harrow continues to grow and develop, we will continue to work hard with all our partners to protect the elements that make it so special. Together, our aim is to keep the borough and all its communities as clean, green and safe as possible.