Vital two weeks as Harlow Council leader is set to present his budget
News / Tue 11th Feb 2025 at 10:26am
THIS IS an important two weeks for the leader of Harlow Council and his team.
The young leader has promoted the budget through press releases and social media.
But now there is cabinet in Thursday Feb 13th and then full council on Thursday Feb 27th.
The numbers are tight: Harlow Conservatives: 17. Harlow Labour 16.
We sat down and spoke to councillor Swords about the budget.
We will have a deeper dive following Thursday’s meeting.
Peter Henegan
2025-02-11 12:15:56
I admire Dan's enthusiasm and optimism for the future of Harlow. Of course, and perhaps dependent on which side of the political spectrum one sits, not everything is perfect. We have never had an answer, that I have seen in YH, as to the price paid for the Burnt Mill flats. And YH didn't really get an answer to the question about the new MD. But at least, and possibly at last, we seem to have a council that is driving the town forward without asking us to put our hands in our pockets to pay for it
David Forman
2025-02-11 13:10:28
Nice to see the regeneration being delivered by this council, rather than the pathetic attempts of the last Labour administration that failed on two occasions to secure government funding. Add to this the £468,000 in a failed Compulsory Purchase Order on land at London Road and abotber £500,000 on housing projects that were never built. The following link a reminder of Labour's failed regeneration: https://www.yourharlow.com/2021/01/01/harlow-alliance-party-no-surprise-that-regenerate-town-centre-bid-failed/?_gl=1*1lebbl1*_ga*MTUxMTU1MDA4My4xNzM3OTY0MzM4*_ga_VG46TH43S2*MTczOTI3NTQ4NS4yNy4xLjE3MzkyNzkyNDYuMC4wLjExMzEyMDI4OTM.
David Forman
2025-02-11 13:13:26
A reminder of Labour's failed Compulsory Purchase Order: https://www.yourharlow.com/2022/02/07/harlow-council-face-500000-bill-after-failed-bid-to-buy-land/?_gl=1*wvbbhd*_ga*MTUxMTU1MDA4My4xNzM3OTY0MzM4*_ga_VG46TH43S2*MTczOTI3NTQ4NS4yNy4xLjE3MzkyNzk1MzcuMC4wLjExMzEyMDI4OTM.
David Forman
2025-02-11 13:52:08
However, Dan Swords is fond of making bold claims including court cases to reduce costs of failed London Road Compulsory Purchase Order. In answer to my question at Cabinet on March 3, 2022 Dan Swords said: "the Council is confident that there will be a substantial reduction in the costs claimed by the landowner." I wonder what happened? Maybe the Editor can provide an answer?
gary roberts
2025-02-11 14:53:48
Mr Henegan you do know that the Burnt Mills development is still empty? The real question is why? With over 5,000 Harlow people still on the housing needs register needing a home it is still empty a year on since the council bought it.
Nicholas Taylor
2025-02-12 08:42:04
At the rate that the re-paving of areas within the Town Centre are taking, Cllr Swords will be drawing his state pension before even that is completed. As for mentioning the hospital, the Strawberry Star sites amd demolitioning Terminus House we all know from history that these are at best a wish list and whilst the council are building new homes which are welcome, at the end of their programme of works they will still have less homes than they did in 2012. As for the thousands of new homes that will be built around Harlow, not a single council owned home and developers unwilling to contribute towards infrastructure improvements.
gary roberts
2025-02-12 16:18:47
I am hoping that the Labour group will make an forensic examination of the planned Conservative budget before replying to it. See if the sale of Osler House in Potter Street is included and ask for the selling price. I suspect the smoke and not the mirror will be included sadly.
Harlow Tenant
2025-02-12 20:04:19
Excellent news - "increasing investment to transform council housing by 23% to £136.6 million in 2025/26". An average of about £15,000 on each of its council homes. Many tenants who have waited years for real improvements will be delighted that this council will spend £136 million on "transforming" their homes next year! How do we apply to have improvement works done? Maybe someone at the council who reads Your Harlow can comment or add a link to the application form?
Barney Rubble
2025-02-12 20:10:36
You make an excellent point, Harlow Tenant. Does this mean that the council team knows what it is doing now - a bit more experience in the senior team?
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