Harlow Council leader details six priorities over coming year and beyond
Harlow Council / Sat 13th Jul 2024 at 06:20am
ON FRIDAY, we sat down with the leader of Harlow Council to question on him on his plan for the coming year.
After a very intense General Election period, he was keen to stress that life and business at the council was very business and productive.
Our interview is below, as is a letter from councillor Swords to the residents of Harlow.
Dear residents,
It is the greatest honour to be writing to you again after my re-election as the Leader of Harlow Council for the second year running following the council elections in May. As the Leader of your council, you need to know what my focus will be, so you can hold me directly accountable for what we are delivering for you.
Last year, we laid the foundations for the future by delivering on our five priorities. The five pledges we made in 2023 to restore trust in the council and what it could achieve. Not everything has gone right – it never does. But we have changed the way Harlow Council works and have put us on the footing to transform our town over the next four years.
Look simply at the fact we were recently named the second most improved council in the UK for 2023/4. That is no easy feat, but simply recognition that we are moving in the right direction. We also cleared the backlog in housing repairs, overhauled the way council homes are allocated, transformed the way we maintain our environment, replaced over 1,400 street name signs, kickstarted our Council House Building Programme, began the rebuilding of the town centre, secured tens of millions of pounds towards the rebuilding of the town centre and so much more besides.
However, I know that too many people still feel that Harlow Council does not deliver for them.
That’s why, we’ve set out our six missions – built on the success of last year – for the next four years and I passionately believe that these six missions will transform the future of Harlow.
Six missions to hail a new chapter in our history. Six missions which we, and every member of our team, will deliver, for Harlow. Six missions to change the way we do things and ensure that the children of Harlow today have a safer and more prosperous future and to ensure that every resident from Arkwrights to Aylets Field, from Hilly Field to Hare Street lives in a better home, in a renewed neighbourhood, with a new town centre, with a better job and a growing local economy, safer streets, a healthier future and a council which truly delivers for them.
Our Plan will put the heart back into Harlow and transform our town. We will work night and day to:
- Transform Harlow’s Housing
- Renew Our Neighbourhoods
- Rebuild Our Town
- Secure Investment For Harlow’s Future
- Protect Our Communities
- Deliver High-Performing Council Services
Harlow has so much going for it and I know we have much more to do to rebuild trust with you and transform our town for the better. We have already started work on delivering these missions and over the coming weeks and months we will be doing even more, and I’ll be keeping you all updated.
With every good wish,
Cllr Dan Swords
Leader of Harlow Council
Herbie
2024-07-13 06:58:55
You can do it Dan , and shut up all the doubters.
Mike Price
2024-07-13 07:15:57
Parts of the town centre look like a forgotten dump, and work appears to be abandoned on development
gary roberts
2024-07-13 07:45:08
So Cllr. Swords let me ask you some questions: How much did the council pay the developers for the Burnt Mills homes? How many people from the housing needs register have moved into this development? How much did the council sell Osler House in Potter Street for? When will local council services return to neigbourhoods?
Nicholas Taylor
2024-07-13 09:16:27
One only has to look around the town and see that after more than three years in control of the council nothing is better than it was before then. Not a single brick laid on sites where 103 council homes are said to be built THIS YEAR, I have been waiting over 5 weeks for a response to an enquiry I made of the council, a neighbour being told they might have to wait for up to a year to get their gutter renewed, green areas and other public areas around the town in a poor state, no movement in respect of getting developers to start work on their sites, no sign of work taking place in the "cultural square" it appears that no-one has taken up occupation of the new flat block near the station, despite Cllr Swords saying it was bought some seven months ago, It goes on and on, just like it did with the Conservatives in Parliament with the new hospital (not even in Harlow) and the former named Public Health England move to Harlow. Every resident in the town I feel sure would support the aims listed, it's just that I have little faith, based on the last three years that anything will be achieved.
David
2024-07-13 10:36:49
I think they are closer to visions than missions.
JR
2024-07-13 12:12:24
I think it's all talk no action! The whole of Harlow estates are looking worse than ever. To smarten this town would be to tidy up all green areas & not just the main entrances in & out. I seem to remember reading some other comments & promises made about more cutting of grass, cutting back overgrown hedges also the trees. Every thing looks so unkempt about all estates in Harlow & this year is really & truly worse than any. Dan Swords says he wants to make it a safer place, maybe it should start with the overground unmanaged hedges, trees etc as it's like living in Jurassic park. Can not see over the so overgrown hedges, the trees have so much dead branches, ally ways & paths are been overtaken by all of this to a point where it's becoming dangerous giving no other option than to step into the roads to get by. People parking 2 wheels on pavements very inconsiderate so mums with pushchairs have to revert around then + mobility scooter etc, you made a promise of these things being in one of your MISSIONS!!! I saw a guy spraying!!? Around footpaths, carparks pavements etc on some macanical driven machine & I was totally amazed. He was buzzing around like a lunatic at such a speed what ever he was spraying could not have possibly been of any use. If the hedges etc were maintained then there wouldn't be all these weeds As for housing problems I very much doubt that you will ever clear the backlog of work NEEDED to properties because the work done is not sufficient & therefore a return will be required. Neither will the housing problems be resolved as Dan Swords loves to be pulling down buildings standing in the middle of the rubble with he's hard hat on looking so so stupid & not at all in control + people loosing their homes & not knowing where they are or what will become of them. This town is a complete diabolical mess & getting worse by the day. Too many chiefs and not enough Indians & not one of them making this town any better. Stop giving us your empty promises & tidy up all of Harlow because right now it's a slum in most areas.
Gaz
2024-07-13 12:20:35
I hope Harlow manages to somehow regain it core values. For me it was such sad news to hear about the recent passing of Sue Jones from Harlow Advice Centre, who gave over 40 years dedication and hard work to helping the people of Harlow. She demonstrated the true values of Harlow and the ethos of community.
Mark Gregory
2024-07-13 19:07:34
When's marks and Spencers coming back dan
Undecided
2024-07-13 22:15:08
Hollow promises. You're a fraud and so are your council. 3 yrs time you will again be promising the earth in return for votes in the elections.
Lewis
2024-07-14 10:30:39
When will the work be done such as fire doors , security systems and repainting on the flats in Felmongers which were promised for this June and for a few years previously?
Pat Roberts
2024-07-14 11:03:02
Dan, In May you told me the Yorkes old people’s project was up to speed. Errr ……. NO. It should have started at the beginning of the year according to the timeline board on the front of the site. What’s happening - nothing. It’s due to be finished this year. Where on earth did you get your previous info from? What is really happening on the site? My brother in law, who was a top level civil engineer, looked at the site with me and said it appeared derelict. Answers please Dan - and a new timeline. The present one just looks stupid. And we are not stupid!
Nicholas Taylor
2024-07-14 14:37:31
Pat, you make a good point, one which we in the Harlow Alliance Party were going to raise at Full Council next week. Even if work started this week, and there is no sign of which site ot sites will be started first, it will be at least another year before anyone will take up occupation, so it will be over four years without any new council home being completed. In the meantime phase two of the proposed building plan becomes even further away from being started.
Ann
2024-07-14 21:17:52
Yesss 💯 N.Taylor,JR,Gaz and Pat Roberts well said all of you!!
John Smoleskis
2024-07-15 08:13:29
@Mark Gregory. On a facebook post on 4/7, I asked Dan about when M&S are coming back, and when the council are knocking down Terminus House. His reply, and I quote “Both pledges are on track.”
Janet ennifer
2024-07-15 17:54:16
Well if you want to tidy up the neighbourhoods you can start by getting rid of the disgusting bin cupboards you installed outside all the flats with NO consultation with the residents…..bloody eyesores!!!!!!
DEC HAN
2024-07-16 05:38:34
Virtually the same words repeated over and over again and not much changes unfortunately for the best, just take a trip to the old market square in the town centre and observe the drinking that goes on on the benches and smell the cannabis being smoked by the individuals that loiter there almost everyday.
Leave a Comment Below:
16 Comments for Harlow Council leader details six priorities over coming year and beyond: