Mayor and her party have 'lost confidence' in Harrow's legal department

THE POLITICAL party that run Harrow Council have 'lost confidence' in their own legal department.  

Independent Labour, led by Thaya Idaikkadar, are contesting that the the Conservative motion to bring to the council a vote of no confidence on Monday is unconstitutional.  

Mayor of Harrow Nana Asante (Independent Labour) blocked the meeting going ahead, however a monitoring officer overruled her, leaving the political future of Harrow Council now up in the air.   

Council rules state that the same motion cannot be taken to the council within six months, however the Tory faction of Harrow are circumventing the rule as they have the necessary requirement of over 25 per cent of the house willing to go ahead with the meeting.  

This plan has been approved by the council's monitoring officer.   

An Independent Labour Group statement released yesterday said: “The intention is to further undermine the mayor by ignoring the constitution which clearly states the mayor’s ruling on the interpretation or application of any of the council procedure rules is final.”  

“Independent Labour Group and the mayor have lost confidence in the director of legal services and will therefore seek independent legal advice before Monday.”  

Michael Lockwood, Chief Executive of Harrow Council, said: “The council has taken appropriate and independent legal advice about the extraordinary meeting on Monday September 16.  

“This concurs with the monitoring officer’s advice that this meeting was properly called and that the motion can properly be considered. This legal advice will be shared with the mayor, the leader of the council and the leaders of the two opposition parties in advance of the meeting.  

“The council has every confidence in the actions of the director of legal services who is also the monitoring officer.”  

Mr Idaikkadar told the Observer after this statement was released: "The tradition is to go with what the mayor says. When she says stand up you stand up. When she says sit down, you sit down."   

With the extraordinary meeting now going ahead, a UKIP councillor, a Liberal Democrat, and nine Independent Labour members will have the key swing votes while the Conservatives and Labour group have 25 councillors each in the event that everyone attends.