Conservative councillors have accused the Labour administration in Harrow of “mismanagement” after it published its latest corporate plan.
Harrow Council released its ‘Harrow Ambition Plan’ at a cabinet meeting last week, outlining its progress and aims for the future.
But opposition councillors criticised sections of the document, particularly the council’s £1.75 billion regeneration scheme.
Cllr Paul Osborn, leader of Harrow’s Conservative Group, referenced audit reports that were critical of the programme, including one which “slams every single project that the council is doing”.
Cllr Keith Ferry, responsible for business, planning and regeneration at Harrow Council, agreed that there were improvements to be made in the process.
But he maintained that the programme has been “well-managed” and the council is confident that it will deliver on its “once in a generation” strategy.
“I commissioned an Aspire report because I felt that, at that stage [in February 2018], the way that we were working was not the best that we could do,” Cllr Ferry said.
“I don’t believe it necessarily criticised the way we were working; it suggested there were other things we could do.
“And we’ve had other consultants who have looked at it since then who have come to the conclusion that the report was, in some ways, flawed.”
The regeneration section of the corporate plan notes that the Poet’s Corner project – a housing scheme near the site of the civic centre – has taken a “new direction of travel”.
The plans for Byron Quarter – a housing and leisure project in Byron Recreation Ground – and the new civic centre in Wealdstone are also being reviewed.
Cllr Graham Henson, leader of Harrow Council, said the authority can remain “ambitious” as long as it appreciates the need for flexibility on major projects.
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