The Council meeting on Thursday 15 May 2025 saw the election of the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor, alongside the appointment of a Chaplain. Key decisions were also made regarding committee memberships, the approval of the Scrutiny Annual Report, and the recognition of Councillor Jean Lammiman's long service.

Election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor

The meeting commenced with the formal election of the Mayor for the Municipal Year 2025/26. Following this, the newly elected Mayor announced their notification of the Deputy Mayor. The Mayor also announced their appointment of a Chaplain to open the meeting with prayers.

Civic Functions

The newly elected Mayor provided an update on the civic functions planned for the 2025/26 municipal year. These included a Civic Service at the Borough Church of St Mary, Harrow on the Hill, a Battle of Britain Commemoration Service, a Civic Wreath Laying at Harrow Memorials, and a Remembrance Parade and Service in Harrow Town Centre. Other events such as the New Year's Day Parade in Central London and a Mayoress's Ball were also noted.

Recognition of Long Service Award - Councillor Jean Lammiman

Council approved a Long Service Award for Councillor Jean Lammiman in recognition of her over 30 years of service to Harrow Council. Councillor Lammiman, first elected in May 1994, has held various significant roles, including Mayor of Harrow for the 2007/08 Municipal Year, and is currently the Portfolio Holder for Adults and Public Health. The award, a framed, illuminated copy of a resolution of appreciation, will be presented in September 2025. The costs for this award will be met from existing budgets.

Approval of Reason for Absence of Councillor Vipin Mithani

Council approved the reasons for Councillor Vipin Mithani's absence due to ill health. Under section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, a dispensation was granted from the requirement to attend meetings until the end of September 2025, to prevent disqualification as a Councillor.

Cabinet and Committee Memberships

A report was received from the Strategic Director of Legal and Governance Services regarding appointments to Cabinet and Committees. Council was asked to note these appointments and approve the proposed committee memberships.

Appointments of Chairs to Committees

Council was presented with a report seeking approval for the appointments of Chairs to various committees for the Municipal Year 2025/26.

Appointment of Representatives to Outside Bodies

A report was presented detailing the proposed appointments of representatives to outside bodies for the upcoming municipal year.

Scrutiny Annual Report 2024/25

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommended the approval of the Scrutiny Annual Report 2024/25. The report outlines the activities of the committee, sub-committees, and scrutiny lead members during the past municipal year. Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had raised concerns that the draft report read too much like the Council's Corporate Plan and did not sufficiently reflect feedback on issues identified in previous meetings or areas for improvement. They also noted ongoing issues with late receipt of officer reports. The committee also resolved to provide the Centre for Public Scrutiny Report (2017) to key scrutiny members to learn best practices.

Constitution Update

A report was presented regarding updates to the Council's constitution. Council resolved to approve the proposed amendments to the constitution and authorised the Monitoring Officer to make these changes.

Information Report - Use of the Urgency Procedure - Executive

This report detailed decisions taken under the Urgency procedure and the General Exception procedure since the Council meeting on 27 February 2025. It was noted that no executive decisions had been taken under the Urgency procedure since the last meeting. However, a decision regarding the United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) for 2025/2026 was made under the General Exception procedure by Cabinet on 10 April 2025. This was due to the need for Harrow Council to sign a funding agreement with the Greater London Authority (GLA) to receive its allocation of £798,400, as the funding period ended on 31 March 2026 and a timely start was crucial to maximise provision for residents.

Information Report - Remuneration Packages of £100,000 or Greater

This report summarised remuneration packages approved by the Chief Officers’ Employment Panel (COEP) since the last Council meeting. Government guidance requires the full Council to be informed of any remuneration package of £100,000 per annum or greater. The report noted that the COEP, on 19 March 2025, approved the salary package for the Assistant Director of Internal Audit & Corporate Anti-Fraud, graded D1, with a salary range of £132,302 - £155,625 (including on-costs). This role is considered essential for strategic leadership in internal audit, counter fraud, and corporate risk management.

Dates of Council Meetings 2025/26

The dates for ordinary Council meetings for the 2025/26 Municipal Year were noted and confirmed. These include meetings on Thursday 18 September 2025, Thursday 27 November 2025, Thursday 26 February 2026 (Council Tax), and Wednesday 20 May 2026 (Annual).