Harlow Labour leader sets out priorities and plans for the town

General Election 2024 / Sun 10th Mar 2024 at 08:11am

IT now feels that Chris Vince is approaching the business end of his political career.

He is the leader of the Harlow Labour group that hope to regain the council they lost in 2021 after running it since 2012.

He is also the parliamentary candidate, who hope to overturn Robert Halfon’s 14,063 majority. That election may come in May but more likely for the autumn.

We hadn’t spoke to him since the recent budget setting meeting so wanted to discuss a number of issues with him.

At its core it is that we wonder, we appreciate that at the heart of their concerns is to protect services and jobs in Harlow but then have been accused of not having any vision or any plans.

43 Comments for Harlow Labour leader sets out priorities and plans for the town:

Alex

2024-03-10 08:33:41

This man and his colleagues are absolute idiots. The administration has clearly explained that this £10.8 m shortfall is not real. Labour are financial imbeciles. Compare the detailed Conservative plans versus this complete empty nonsense with no details. Complete rubbish. Couldn't run a bath.

Allan

2024-03-10 09:07:06

And the priorities and plans for Harlow are? What a load of incoherent, contradictory, meaningless rubbish. Harlow Labour has no plans for the town. Wouldn't know where to start. Chris Vince's sole ambition is to become the MP. God help us!

Yvonne

2024-03-10 09:13:28

Does he not know that the Conservative administration has announced new investments for Harlow Museum, Pet's Corner, the paddling pools and splash parks. Chris Vince and Harlow Labour couldn't even present an alternative budget and voted to scrap the Council Tax Support Scheme. They are rank amateurs. A complete shambles. The idea of that lot running Council is just too terrible to contemplate.

Eddie

2024-03-10 09:25:36

This town has not suddenly become crappy. Its been like it for years , even when Labour were in power in Harlow. C Vince talks about meetings to see what needs to be done to revive the town. That should have been done before the budget meeting , but obviously they did,nt , because they had no budget. Labour are not even good enough to be called totally useless.

Martin

2024-03-10 09:33:20

The word that best describes Chris Vince and Harlow Labour is 'CLUELESS'. They insult the residents' intelligence.

Alderman Durcan

2024-03-10 10:32:42

Clueless or simply telling the truth. For all the political Tory spin the truth will not change. The council has been underfunded by the Tory government. The council receive less money locally to run services The council now relies on car parking ,The Harvey centre and adverts on roundabout to fund essential services. We can’t go ,we need a change. People want answers not personal attacks. No wonder people switch off when all you can do is attack the person not the policy. Let’s start listening more ,people matter.

Kay Morrison

2024-03-10 10:38:17

The abusive comments above may be intended to distract from the damage inflicted on our country by the Conservatives, by various means during the last 14 years. Harlow Council isn't alone in having had its funding cut repeatedly and relentlessly; Harlow's people describe their struggles to pay the bills, to manage on less, to being forced to resort to foodbanks for themselves and their children. Enough damage has been done. Time for change.

Cllr James Leppard

2024-03-10 10:54:57

Councillor Durcan displays his abject ignorance of financing and clearly had not read last week's post by his colleague Cllr Tony Edwards. So much for Harlow Labour internal communications! The claim that essential services are being funded by revenues generated by the Harvey Centre is completely untrue and wrong. As the acquisition of the Harvey Centre was made under the mantra of 'regeneration' all surpluses/profits derived therefrom can only be used for other regeneration and are necessarily ring-fenced. They cannot be used for General Fund services. This was made abundantly clear to all councillors when the acquisition was made. Harlow Labour's attention to detail, grasp of facts and internal communication between its members is seriously defective, which is hardly news!

Karen

2024-03-10 11:01:23

What is Kay Morrison ranting on about? 'Abusive comments'? How can it be abusive if it is true. Labour didn't produce an alternative budget- TRUE Labour voted to scrap the Council Tax Support Scheme -TRUE Chris Vince interview has no concrete ideas or plans -TRUE Everything Kay Morrison talks about has nothing to do with Harlow Council. She is just another useless Labour windbag.

Alderman Durcan

2024-03-10 11:04:21

Alderman Durcan is neither ignorant or stupid enough to react to name calling. Can we keep the conversation civil and respectful or don’t bother. This is the reason why you hear too many times on the doorstep why people can’t trust local politicians. We can agree to disagree but with respect. End

Adam

2024-03-10 11:27:36

I would rather he was approaching the end of his political career. Typical empty suit politican who has done nothing but but work in public /third sector and politics. He is the opposite of what we need in the town and country

Kay Morrison

2024-03-10 11:29:23

Wise words, Alderman Durcan. Conservatives don't have to be nasty. It isn't compulsory and isn't evidenced in all parts of the UK. Indeed, many of us signed up to the principles of 'Debate: not Hate' but obviously its benefits could be disseminated more generally.

Stephen

2024-03-10 11:39:29

Why are Cllrs Morrison and Durcan such woke wimps. Every time they are caught out as being factually wrong they claim they are being 'abused' or 'insulted'!! If you can't take it get out of politics. Get some backbone and stop whinging!

James Griggs

2024-03-10 11:41:04

Let’s just take a moment to remind Cllr Leppard and the rest of the Grant Shapps Fan Club of a quote from their doyen Margaret Thatcher ‘If they attack you personally, it means they have not a single political argument left’

Cllr Jodi Dunne

2024-03-10 12:04:03

More hysteria from the Tories and their promises will turn to dust no doubt. They try to rewrite history in a retroactive attempt to appear relevant as the polls predict a crushing defeat at the next election and their embattled leader is coming under fire from all directions. If the local Tories had any backbone or indeed confidence in themselves or their policies, nationally or locally, they'd call for an election tonight. But no! They'll asset strip the country and leave Labour to work it out instead. The people are ready for change, if they cared about democracy (two unelected prime ministers and counting notwithstanding) we could have an election in May. They're running scared of a Labour rout.

James Leppard

2024-03-10 12:04:13

James Griggs, my criticism of Cllr Durcan's comments are factual, not personal. Please check.

Molly

2024-03-10 12:10:16

Why is it that all Harlow Labour Councillors wax lyrical generalities about almost everything over which as Harlow councillors they have absolutely no influence. People in Harlow want to know what are their plans for our town. They have none! They just distract attention taking simulated offence at everything and talk rubbish.

James Griggs

2024-03-10 12:11:23

Cllr Leppard, your comments re Harvey Centre revenues are welcome but directly contradict o comment by your leader in response to a recent article in which he referred to the freezing of Council Tax being possible due to Harvey Centre profits. Which is it? Sadly YH does not allow me to copy and paste it here

Alderman Durcan

2024-03-10 12:20:51

Councillor Leppard should know better as we are governed by the Nolan principles . This why we have a duty to call out behaviour that slips under this principle. We know and understand that this has been his model and wants to protect it. I will give credit when credit is due but we can’t make comment that are viewed as offensive. Please keep to a sensible debate. Noticed your second comment has been removed which made reference to housing . Can I refer you to the Nolan principles again. Please reflect.

Tony Edwards

2024-03-10 12:33:25

Cllr Leppard here is what your leader Cllr Swords posted on on Your Harlow Facebook page on the 24th Feb. "The reason we can freeze Council Tax is because we have a significant amount of other revenue coming in. A council tax increase would raise £160k this year. The Harvey Centre income is £1. million this year. So, we can freeze Council Tax" (sic) When as you say, the agreed rules are "Any surplus realised would be ring-fenced to support the future redevelopment of parts of the Harvey Centre, provide security against future income risks and provide a specific Earmarked Reserve for the wider regeneration of Harlow".(sic) Does Cllr Swords not understand the rules or is he just playing fast and loose with the facts? Either way, given that you can't use the income from the Harvey Centre to fund shortfalls in the general revenue account even if you wanted to - what is your plan to balance the budget in 25/26?

Karen

2024-03-10 12:34:21

Again all we hear from Harlow Labour councillors is smoke. When are Cllrs Vince, Morrison, Durcan, Griggs and Dunne going to explain why Labour had no alternative budget and why they voted to scrap the Council Tax Support Scheme? Simple questions that shouldn't be beyond the wit of them to answer in a straightforward manner. No insults just straight questions. Who wants to answer?

James Leppard

2024-03-10 12:46:51

Cllr Edwards, I answered those questions fully last week. Please refer back. It does become tiresome to have to repeat constantly. I think it would be courteous if one of you actually troubled to answer some of the very pertinent questions raised here.

Tony Edwards

2024-03-10 13:02:51

1. We voted against the Tory budget because it was irresponsible. 2. The Labour leader asked for the budget to be voted on in parts but this was refused by the administration. 3. Whatever budget we may have put forward was not going to be accepted by the Conservatives who are currently the majority party. 4. If elected in May as the administration, Labour will review each of the departmental budgets in turn. We will lobby the Government for a fair grant support settlement, and we will ensure that going forward the Council’s services are funded in a sustainable and responsible way.

Tom

2024-03-10 13:11:51

Councillor what a load of old twaddle. Again doesn't say anything concrete. Let's face the facts. 1. During COVID Harlow Labour run council was named the 'worst in Essex'. 2. Harlow Conservative council has been nominated for the independent Local Government Association 'Most improved Council of the Year'. Facts! Says it all really. Harlow Labour is a waste of space.

Tony Edwards

2024-03-10 13:14:04

And Cllr Leppard - you still haven't explained why your leader doesn't appear to understand the rules.

Dan Swords

2024-03-10 13:38:15

Cllr Edwards, if we receive a £1 million into the council to pay for regeneration work - such as staffing, consultants, resource etc - as it must - it means that the money we would be spending on that we can direct elsewhere. It is not a difficult concept to grasp, the more money produced by the Harvey Centre the less the General Fund pays towards regeneration. It is that simple. On your point that Labour asked for the budget to be voted on in parts, that is a complete lie. It was your Leader at the pre-meet that asked for it to be taken on block. I even said to the Chair that I couldn’t believe he wanted to do that. Probably best you check your facts first.

James Leppard

2024-03-10 13:50:03

Thanks for the clarification. I had no recollection whatsoever of Harlow Labour asking to vote on the Budget in sections. Saying that Councillor Edwards is lying might appear somewhat harsh (albeit quite possibly true). Given the heightened sensitivities expressed by Cllrs Morrison and Durcan, I am willing to be more generous and charitable and attribute this blatant terminological inexactitude (to quote Churchill) to their overall lack of attention or grasp of details, their apparent general amnesia and confused thought processes. I would not wish to be so harsh as to accuse them of outright lies. Others may well think otherwise.

Tony Edwards

2024-03-10 14:05:04

Can we all take a deep breath and desist from calling each other liars. I will asked for the facts to be checked.

Adam

2024-03-10 14:31:22

Look at the state of the politicians in this thread. Why do we give any of them our vote, is there any wonder turn out is down. People have realised cons and lab are a uniparty, different cheeks of the same bottom.

David Forman

2024-03-10 14:57:20

Conservatives James Leppard and Dan Swords' grasp of their councillor job descriptions leads me to believe they know what they are doing. However, Harlow Labour councillors inability to hold the administration to account has led me to issue on a number of occasions a "Top Tip" to work with. The Editor of YourHarlow is copied into these Top Tips, but Harlow Labour seem reluctant to take full advantage of them. This rather proves the old adage "you can lead a horse to water..."

David Forman

2024-03-10 15:18:55

I forgot to add that if you want an assessment of Chris Vince's political savvy, then you can look no further than one of his own Harlow Labour Party members. I'm talking about John Wake, a university educated person who takes a lot of time and effort researching a topic before writing a letter to YourHarlow. I know this from casual observations of John in one of Harlow's libraries. In a letter, from last November, to YourHarlow John described Chris Vince as "somewhat vague about his stance on a number of political issues". Clearly, we have seen that vagueness recently regarding Harlow Council's Budget!

Chris Vince

2024-03-10 15:56:20

Cllr Sword. I absolutely did ask to take the item seperately, as officer advised us to, and you wanted to take it on block. I will be speaking to officers present this week to confirm.

Adam

2024-03-10 16:27:04

Chris while you are here what are your plans for harlow and the country. You are great at sound bites but little policy? What will be different to when you labour last ran the council and we had 10 years of stagnation and decline ?

Dan Swords

2024-03-10 16:39:25

Chris, that is entirely untrue and the officers and chair will confirm.

Chris Vince

2024-03-10 17:12:06

I will email the chief exec now, that's absolutely what I was suggesting in the pre meet

Dan Swords

2024-03-10 18:26:12

Chris, even in the video link of the actual meeting (following your agreement at the pre-meet) the chair asks publicly if you agree to take the item on block and you agree. You can see it at item 10 here: https://harlow.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/854100

Annie

2024-03-10 19:37:34

Game, set and match to Cllr Dan Swords methinks. Harlow Labour a usual shambles.

Nicholas Taylor

2024-03-10 19:51:10

Keep it going ladies and gentlemen, playing out party politics based in Westminster with hundred if not thousands of readers reading these posts. It gives a clue as to why when members of HAP speak to people it is not the cost of living crisis that people want to talk about it, top of the list is the dislike bordering on hatred of politicians. At all levels of government, politicians are failing to interact with the electorate, explaining policy and why actions are being taken. For many these pages give the only insight as to how politics works and the electorate are turned off and then don't come out to vote, because "they are all the same".

Alex

2024-03-10 21:08:59

This post and comments started this morning. Loads of Labour councillors have stuck their oar in yet we are still none the wiser as to 'their alternative plans or ideas for Harlow'. What I said at the start still holds. Not one of them could set out a clear 4 to 6 point plan like the Conservative administration. Totally useless shower of rank amateurs!

Pedro

2024-03-10 21:38:02

Quite obviously Labour and Chris Vince haven't got a plan, never forget Chris Vince and his party leader actively campaingned to put Jeremy Corbyn into #10

Kevin

2024-03-11 07:50:12

Listing to all you councillors is why the turn our to vote is so poor. Non of you can be trusted to do the righ thing for us as you all bend the truth to try and make you look like you are helping us. You all need to take a good look at the way you are killing this town and show us that you will do what you promise and stop all this bullshit

Moi

2024-03-11 09:36:56

Oh dear "He said, she said. I said, you said. We said, they said." Come on children🙄. Is there any wonder people can't be bothered to go out and vote for either one one your parties. Because I believe that I have a responsibility to vote every time, if there's another alternative I will vote for them. If not I'll spoil my paper.

Eddie

2024-03-11 09:38:53

Tony Edwards. You did not put an alternative budget forward because it would have been rejected 🤔. But don't you realise that Harlow people need to know so they can decide who to vote for. Or is it that if you did put forward an alternative budget , you would have lost votes. Kay Morrison. You think the country is run badly , you wait until if or when Labour get in power , the unions who are your pay masters , will bankrupt Britain.