Harrow London Borough Council /ˈhæroʊ/,^[3] also known as Harrow Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Harrow in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2022. Full council meetings are held at the Harrow Arts Centre and the council's main offices are at the Council Hub in Wealdstone.

The first elected local authority for Harrow was a local board, established in 1850 covering the central part of the ancient parish of Harrow on the Hill, including the hilltop village and the adjoining hamlets of Roxeth, Sudbury and Greenhill (the latter subsequently developed into the modern town centre of Harrow following the opening of Harrow-on-the-Hill station there in 1880).^[4] Such boards were reconstituted as urban district councils under the Local Government Act 1894.^[5]

The urban district was significantly enlarged in 1934 to take in the neighbouring urban district of Wealdstone and the parishes of Harrow Weald, Pinner, Great Stanmore and Little Stanmore. Wealdstone, Harrow Weald and Pinner had all historically been part of the ancient parish of Harrow on the Hill. The urban district was renamed from Harrow on the Hill to just Harrow as part of the 1934 expansion. Harrow was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1954.^[6]

In 1965 the borough was transferred from Middlesex to Greater London under the London Government Act 1963. It kept the same boundaries, but was renamed the London Borough of Harrow, becoming one of the 32 London Boroughs. The council's full legal name is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Harrow".^[7]

From 1965 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by the Greater London Council. The split of powers and functions meant that the Greater London Council was responsible for "wide area" services such as fire, ambulance, flood prevention, and refuse disposal; with the boroughs (including Harrow) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council Harrow has been a local education authority since 1965. The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to the London Boroughs, with some services provided through joint committees.^[8]

Since 2000 the Greater London Authority has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the English local government system the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of the available range of powers and functions.^[9]

The local authority derives its powers and functions from the London Government Act 1963 and subsequent legislation, and has the powers and functions of a London borough council. It sets council tax and as a billing authority also collects precepts for Greater London Authority functions and business rates.^[10] It sets planning policies which complement Greater London Authority and national policies, and decides on almost all planning applications accordingly. It is a local education authority and is also responsible for council housing, social services, libraries, waste collection and disposal, traffic, and most roads and environmental health.^[11]

The council has its main offices at the Council Hub on Kenmore Avenue in Wealdstone. The building was purpose-built for the council in 2022.^[17] Full council meetings are held at the Harrow Arts Centre in Hatch End, which also houses the mayor's parlour.^[18][19]

Prior to 2022 the council was based at Harrow Civic Centre on Station Road in Harrow, which had been purpose-built for the council, being completed in 1973.^[20]

Since the last boundary changes in 2022, the council has comprised 55 councillors representing 22 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.^[21]

As of 5 May 2022, the composition of Harrow Council is 31 Conservative councillors to 24 Labour councillors: