Harrow London Borough Council

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.^[4] Such boards were reconstituted as urban district councils under the Local Government Act 1894.^[5]

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.^[6]

The London Borough of Harrow and its council were created under the London Government Act 1963, with the first election held in 1964.^[7] 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.^[8] The council's full legal name is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Harrow".^[9]

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.^[10]

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.^[11]

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 also collects precepts for Greater London Authority functions and business rates.^[12] It sets planning policies which complement Greater London Authority and national policies, and decides on almost all planning applications accordingly. It is a local education authority and is also responsible for council housing, social services, libraries, waste collection and disposal, traffic, and most roads and environmental health.^[13]

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.^[14] Full council meetings are held at the Harrow Arts Centre in Hatch End, which also houses the mayor's parlour.^[15][16]

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.^[17]

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:^[18][19]

Following the 2022 election and a subsequent party suspension in June 2023, the composition of the council was as follows:^[47]

The next election is due in May 2026.^[48]

The wards of Harrow and the number of seats:^[49]

1. Belmont (2)
2. Canons (2)
3. Centenary (3)
4. Edgware (3)
5. Greenhill (3)
6. Harrow on the Hill (2)
7. Harrow Weald (3)
8. Hatch End (2)
9. Headstone (3)
10. Kenton East (3)
11. Kenton West (2)
12. Marlborough (3)
13. North Harrow (2)
14. Pinner (3)
15. Pinner South (3)
16. Rayners Lane (2)
17. Roxbourne (2)
18. Roxeth (3)
19. Stanmore (3)
20. Wealdstone North (2)
21. Wealdstone South (2)
22. West Harrow (2)

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.^[50]