Councillor Paul Osborn was honoured for his 25 years of dedicated service to Harrow Council at a full council meeting on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

The council meeting took a significant turn to celebrate Councillor Osborn's quarter-century commitment to the borough, with many speakers highlighting his dedication, intelligence, and unwavering commitment to Harrow.

Councillor Marilyn Ashton, Deputy Leader, described him as incredibly clever and praised his ability to look at a problem very calmly, work out what is in dispute, what needs fixing. And he, and he thinks about it, and he fixes it. He absolutely does. She also noted his deep understanding of council procedures and that he knows his constitution so well. Councillor Anjana Patel echoed this sentiment, stating that Councillor Osborn's knowledge of council rules was invaluable, even for the Mayor.

Councillor David Perry, Leader of the Labour Group, acknowledged Councillor Osborn's significant journey from opposition to leadership, noting that he has gone from back-bearer to leader of the opposition and leader of the council, and it is a huge journey of which I know very well, because I have have done it. He also praised Councillor Osborn's steadfast commitment to public service.

During his tenure, particularly as Leader of the Council over the past four years, Councillor Osborn highlighted several key achievements he is most proud of. These include significant improvements to roads with a £56 million investment, leading to the resurfacing of 178 roads and pavements. Green flag parks have increased from six to eight, with aspirations to reach ten. He also ensured the continuation of free school meals during holidays for another three years, subject to government approval, and stepped in to support pensioners when the government withdrew winter fuel allowance.

Councillor Osborn also launched a successful nuisance vehicle service, which has received over 500 reports and is now a permanent fixture. He oversaw the purchase of a site for a special needs school, despite government funding being withdrawn. Furthermore, one hour of free parking in local streets was introduced, a scheme that has been used over 12 million times, benefiting residents and local businesses. His administration adopted a local plan in record time and introduced measures to ensure all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) require planning permission. A pilot for large bins in 12 parks has also been made permanent, alongside a free bulky waste collection service that has assisted 5,000 households.

Councillor Osborn stated, I will always strive to put residents first. This vision, described as simple but effective, was a revolutionary idea when we took control of the council in 2020 and is now very much part of the culture of how our council operates. Specific contributions to prioritizing residents' needs include the free parking and bulky waste collections, helping 3,388 families with free school meals during holidays, and the support for pensioners. The resident satisfaction survey results recorded the highest ever figures, with 65% of residents satisfied with the council and 70% believing the council takes their views into account.

Councillor Osborn touched upon the financial challenges and potential impacts of national political changes during his time, noting that cost and funding pressures remained a significant challenge for the council.

Looking ahead, Councillor Osborn expressed his aspiration to do more over the next four years. His future plans include aiming to double like parks in this borough, introducing a lane rental scheme to reduce disruption, and enforcing parking restrictions outside schools. He also intends to invest in council car parks, use selective licensing in more wards to address rogue landlords, and bring more parks and buildings into public use, while improving CCTV coverage. Support for care leavers is also a priority, with plans for clearer counts, training, work experience, apprenticeships, and better housing and university support. He also mentioned looking to provide a new facility for children with disabilities. We will continue to put residents first, and we will continue to deliver value for money for our residents, he concluded.

More information on the council meeting can be found in the Public reports pack, Supplemental Agenda, and Agenda frontsheet.