YOUR readers may have seen that Harrow Council has been praised nationally for steering clear of jargon and local government gobbledegook.

We were pleased the Local Government Association (LGA) highlighted us and just three other councils for making real efforts to cut down on impenetrable jargon in their dealings with the public.

Your readers might also recall that in 2009, we 'junked the jargon' for our Plain English campaign, to ensure we speak clearly to residents and voters.

We've said goodbye to school crossing patrollers and stakeholder engagements, and welcomed back lollipop ladies and asking people what they think.

While we are by no means perfect, we are doing all we can to speak plainly to residents so there is no confusion about the services we offer.

Councils often come in for criticism in the media but the LGA's comments about Harrow Council shows we are attempting to combine plain speaking and common sense.

COUNCILLOR PAUL OSBORN Portfolio holder for performance, communication and corporate services Harrow Council