THE recent Audit Commission report rated Harrow as the worst performing local authority in London and the third worst in the UK as a whole. I am sure Harrow Times readers will agree that this is an unacceptable situation.

Clear and incontrovertible evidence of the poor service that Harrow residents are receiving from Harrow Council has been available for at least the past 12 months.

This situation is particularly frustrating given the substantial extra money Harrow has received recently; more than £200 million extra - including money to completely rebuild Whitmore High School and for Harrow sixth forms.

The Audit Commission's report comes after a series of individual examples of poor service to Harrow residents including the botched introduction of new recycling and refuse collection arrangements, consistent poor performance by the council's housing maintenance service and the successful legal challenge to the council's "consultation" over cuts in legal services.

The reported response to the Audit Commission's findings from the council has been very disappointing and seems to consist of a series of individual initiatives rather than the fundamental transformation of service and attitudes that is required.

Senior councillors should, in my view, appoint a senior member of council staff to lead implementation of such a transformation of service, secondly they should ask the Audit Commission to second staff with experience of turning around other poor performing councils to support this senior staff member.

Harrow Council should also consult local people on the details of a turnaround plan, and commit to achieving significant and measurable improvements quickly.

The culture of blaming other organisations and people for the situation needs to stop now.

I have held talks with the Audit Commission to discuss their findings.

Three further investigations into Harrow Council's performance are due to be carried out by the Audit Commission or agencies acting on its behalf over the next six months, starting with a customer access survey looking at whether Harrow residents have difficulty getting through on the phone or meeting relevant council staff.

I am willing to work with Harrow Council to help secure the professional expertise Harrow needs to have a high performing council, just as I have worked with Tony McNulty MP to help secure the extra £200m of resources that Harrow has received from Government.