Harrow London Borough Council , also known as Harrow Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Harrow in Greater London, England. The council is responsible for the provision of a number of services, within the borough of Harrow. The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2022. Full council meetings are held at the Harrow Arts Centre and the council's main offices are at the Council Hub in Wealdstone.
History The first elected local authority for Harrow was a local board, established in 1850 covering the central part of the ancient parish of Harrow on the Hill. Such boards were reconstituted as urban district councils under the Local Government Act 1894.
The urban district was significantly enlarged in 1934, at which point it was renamed from 'Harrow on the Hill' to just 'Harrow'. Harrow Urban District was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1954, governed by a body formally called the "Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Harrow", generally known as the corporation or borough council.
The London Borough of Harrow and its council were created under the London Government Act 1963, with the first election held in 1964. For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing Harrow Borough Council, which covered the same area. The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965.
From 1965 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by the Greater London Council. The split of powers and functions meant that the Greater London Council was responsible for "wide area" services such as fire, ambulance, flood prevention, and refuse disposal; with the boroughs (including Harrow) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council Harrow has been a local education authority since 1965. The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to the London Boroughs, with some services provided through joint committees.
Since 2000 the Greater London Authority has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the English local government system the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of the available range of powers and functions.
Powers and functions The local authority derives its powers and functions from the London Government Act 1963 and subsequent legislation, and has the powers and functions of a London borough council. It sets council tax and as a billing authority it also collects precepts for Greater London Authority functions and business rates. It sets planning policies which complement Greater London Authority and national policies, and decides on almost all planning applications accordingly. It is also the local education authority.
Premises
The council has its main offices at the Council Hub on Kenmore Avenue in the Wealdstone area of Harrow. The building was purpose-built for the council in 2022. Full council meetings are held at the Harrow Arts Centre in Hatch End, which also houses the mayor's parlour.
Prior to 2022 the council was based at Harrow Civic Centre on Station Road in Harrow, which had been purpose-built for the council, being completed in 1973.
Political control The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2022.
The first election was held in 1964, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1965. Political control of the council since 1965 has been as follows: (Put "Harrow" in search box to see specific results.)
Party in controlYears1965–19711971–19741974–19941994–19981998–20022002–20062006–20102010–20132013–20142014–20222022–present
Leadership The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Harrow. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1965 have been:
Councillor Party From To Charles Jordan 1965 1968 Edward Buckle 1968 1971 Cyril Harrison 1971 1974 Harold Mote 1974 1977 Edward Buckle 1977 1979 Brian Clark 1979 1984 Donald Abbott 1984 1987 Ron Grant 1987 1991 Donald Abbott 1991 1994 Chris Noyce 1994 1995 Andrew Wiseman 1995 1996 Chris Noyce 1996 May 1998 Bob Shannon 20 May 1998 28 Feb 2002 Archie Foulds 28 Feb 2002 21 Oct 2004 Navin Shah 21 Oct 2004 May 2006 Chris Mote 25 May 2006 May 2008 David Ashton 8 May 2008 May 2010 Bill Stephenson 25 May 2010 8 Nov 2012 Thaya Idaikkadar 8 Nov 2012 Apr 2013 Apr 2013 16 Sep 2013 Susan Hall 16 Sep 2013 May 2014 David Perry 12 Jun 2014 19 May 2016 Sachin Shah 19 May 2016 May 2018 Graham Henson 24 May 2018 May 2022 Paul Osborn 26 May 2022
Composition Following the 2026 election, the composition of the council was as follows: Party Councillors 41 12 1 1 Total 55 The table has been adjusted to reflect that one person elected as a Conservative had been suspended from the party, following the nomination deadline but prior to the election. A second candidate who was suspended was not elected.
The next election is due in May 2030.
Wards The wards of Harrow and the number of seats:
Belmont (2) Canons (2) Centenary (3) Edgware (3) Greenhill (3) Harrow on the Hill (2) Harrow Weald (3) Hatch End (2) Headstone (3) Kenton East (3) Kenton West (2) Marlborough (3) North Harrow (2) Pinner (3) Pinner South (3) Rayners Lane (2) Roxbourne (2) Roxeth (3) Stanmore (3) Wealdstone North (2) Wealdstone South (2) West Harrow (2)
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2022, the council has comprised 55 councillors representing 22 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.
References
External links London Borough of Harrow website