Grant Campaign Takes Off

HCTC is delighted to join forces with the Harrow Observer in the campaign for a sensible grant settlement from central government. Our Council's spending money comes mainly from this grant, which is made up of our tax money - but collected and 'redistributed' by Central Government using an unbelievably convoluted formula. Needless to say, we're losing out. We get around £300 less per head of population than the London average. If we got our fair share our Council Tax bill would be cut by hundreds of pounds and the Council would be able to fund services properly.

This situation has been in effect for years, but as more rules are handed down by Central Government and a changing population profile in the borough it has lead to the council tax payers to make up the increasing shortfall.

HCTC will be distributing a petition for everyone to sign. All our MPs and councilors have signed already. This isn't a party-political issue. Everyone in Harrow demands and deserves a fair deal.

You can download petition forms here

Watch this web site and the Harrow Observer for more information.

Outlook for 2007

Did you realise we're short changed on our Central Government funding? If we received the average payback for London it would reduce your tax bill by around £860 per year?

Are our MPs doing enough to get our fair share? We don't think so! Instead we're looking at a hole in the council finances, the lowest council reserves (money in the bank) in living memory and another tax rise to start balancing the books. An then there's the GLA.

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Rubbish!

You can't help notice that Harrow Council rolled out its recycling scheme over the whole Borough, and it hasn't all gone smoothly. HCTC has found out the truth behind the rumours.

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New Council for Harrow

The Conservatives have won a convincing victory in this May's Council Elections, clearly signalling voter's displeasure over the high rates of Council Tax, as well as other local and national issues.

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Harrow Residents Get Bill for Olympics

As HCTC predicted, winning the Olympics is being used as an excuse to raise Harrow's Council Tax yet again. The Olympics aren't going to be in Harrow, so why should we be asked to pay when people outside Greater London aren't asked to contribute. Whether you think the Olympics are a good thing, or a commercial bonanza of no benefit to anyone other than the sports industry, HCTC doesn't think it's fair for us to have to fund it.

Sign our petition

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New Chairman

Stanley Sheinwald, one of HCTC's founders, has stepped down as Chairman in order to seek election as a Councillor for Hatch End in May. He plans to continue the fight from the inside, and we wish him well.

The executive committee has appointed Frank Leonhardt as the new chairman, and Jacqueline Raynaud as the new Secretary.

We have had enough!

Harrow Council was planning 20%+ rise in Council Tax in 2004. This comes on top of a 20% rise in 2003 - tax payers' bills have doubled since 1997.

During the same period, services appear to have got worse, not better.

Harrow Council should stop wasting our money on pointless projects and limit tax raises, to the rate of inflation. The Harrow Council Tax Campaign's aim is to put pressure on the Council in order to obtain proper value for our money.

Green Box Problems?

Whilst efforts at recycling domestic refuse are a good thing in general, there appear to have been problems with the collection of green recycling boxes, especially when arrangements changed in mid-December.

This has been exacerbated by what appears to be a communications issue somewhere between the telephone operators at the civic centre and the lorry crews. The council departments concerned are keen to resolve any outstanding problems, so if your calls appear to be falling on deaf ears, let us know (frank@hctc.org.uk) and we'll help the council to help you. But please call the council first: 020 8863 5611 or fill in the council's on-line form (confusingly found on the web site under Street Faults).