The Conservatives increased its majority on Harrow Council at the recent elections
After the Conservatives delivered an increased majority at the local elections earlier this month, Harrow Council has selected its new mayoral team and filled Cabinet positions. The North West London borough returned a total of 42 Conservative councillors from 55 available seats following the May 7 elections, whilst Harrow Labour suffered heavy losses – mirroring other councils across London and the rest of the country.
The Tories gained 11 seats compared to the previous election, with Labour only returning 12 seats – just half of what they won in 2022 – and will once again form the official opposition. The only other political party represented on Harrow Council is Arise, which returned one councillor in Marlborough ward.
Alongside the re-election of Cllr Paul Osborn as the Leader at the All Council Meeting (ACM) last week week (May 20), a number of other key positions were also approved – including the election of Edgware representative, Cllr Yogesh Teli, as the borough’s Mayor.
The makeup of Harrow Council – 2022 vs 2026 (story continued below)
Now serving his fourth term after first being elected in 2006, Cllr Teli will act as the borough’s first citizen – representing Harrow at civic and ceremonial occasions. He has chosen Kids Can Achieve and Great Ormond Street Hospital as the charities he will raise money for during his mayoral year.
Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Yogesh Teli, said: “It is a great honour to serve as the Mayor of Harrow. I am proud to represent a borough that is rich in diversity, compassion and community spirit.
“My theme for the year is to Love, Serve and Unite All. I want to support our residents in every way I can, bring greater awareness to the charities I care deeply about, and celebrate the many achievements and contributions of people across our borough. I look forward to meeting many residents and groups over the next 12 months.”
A new Cabinet was also formed, with ten members set to oversee key services and drive council priorities. Below is a breakdown of who will sit on the Cabinet and the portfolio they are responsible for:
- Cllr Paul Osborn: Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy
- Cllr Marilyn Ashton: Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration
- Cllr David Ashton: Cabinet Member for Finance & Highways
- Cllr Stephen Greek: Cabinet Member for Performance, Communications & Customer Experience
- Cllr Hitesh Karia: Cabinet Member for Children’s Services
- Cllr Norman Stevenson: Cabinet Member for Adult Services & Public Health
- Cllr Janet Mote: Cabinet Member for Community & Culture
- Cllr Chris Baxte: Cabinet Member for Housing
- Cllr Pritesh Patel: Cabinet Member for Cleaner Streets and Public Safety
- Cllr Chetna Halai: Cabinet Member for Business, Employment & Property
Cllr Osborn said: “We’ll continue to deliver on the things that matter to our residents over the next four years. That includes making it much harder to convert family homes into Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs), investing in our roads and street cleansing, progressing with genuine affordable homes, supporting families and young people, protecting our green spaces, more green flag parks, and ensuring we are delivering high quality services that offer value for money.
“There’s lots to do, and our corporate plan sets out our priorities for the coming years. My cabinet [is] committed to drive forward our key priorities are Putting Residents First, delivering a borough that is Clean and Safe, and Supporting those most in Need.”
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