Working with residents to secure the future of the Arts Centre

In launching the ‘Take Part’ consultation three months before the first draft budget, we have been open and honest with residents about the challenges we face with central Government imposing huge cuts on Harrow Council, a fact which has led to the need for savings of £75m. I would like to say a massive thanks to all the staff for their hard work in bringing this consultation together.
The responses we received will influence the decisions we make as a council moving forward. Our announcement on the Arts Centre shows this perfectly.
We are delighted to say that after listening to residents’ concerns, we have decided to keep the Arts Centre open for this year while we develop a business plan to make the site financially viable and able to run independently without a council subsidy in future years.
I think it’s fantastic that residents are engaging with us; it’s a huge positive that we have attracted 12000 people to get involved in local politics as a part of the ‘Take Part’ budget consultation.
On the subject of tackling big issues, Harrow Council is about to launch a major regeneration plan which could potentially put £1.7 billion of investment into the area. This is an exciting project which shows our ambitions for Harrow. Having already announced the re-starting of a council house building programme earlier in the year, we’re going from strength to strength after submitting a Housing Zone bid for more than £30 million to the Greater London Authority which we will use to regenerate Harrow and Wealdstone Town Centre.
On a personal note, when writing this blog I was shocked by the news that the 25-year- old Australian Cricketer Phil Hughes tragically lost his life playing the game he loved, and I would like to pay my respects and offer my deepest sympathies.
I know how many staff and residents love cricket. The outpouring of condolences for Phil Hughes all over the world is a clear reminder of how, more than ever, sport brings people together.