COUNCILLORS appeared on a camera during a four hour long meeting to discuss - and eventually pass - Harrow's budget for the coming year.

Local blogger The Harrow Bugle recorded some of the drama in the council chamber at Harrow Council's Harrow Civic Centre yesterday evening in which adjournments were granted to allow private meetings to go ahead between the Independent Labour group and the minority Conservative administration.

Those behind-closed-doors discussions ended in the rebel council group, led by former council leader Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar, voting in favour of the Tory's budget after concessions were made, and allowing it to be pushed through.

After last night's mammoth meeting - finishing at just before midnight - council leader Councillor Susan Hall (Conservative) told GetWestLondon.co.uk: "We had no intention of leaving here tonight until we sorted this out.

"We have come to a reasonable compromise and now have the budget in place to deliver what residents want: A cleaner, safer and fairer borough."

Opposition Labour councillors had even ordered in takeaway pizza to keep their energy up during the negotiations.

The Conservatives, who had proposed to scrap community festival Under One Sky and instead hold an civic event to celebrate the borough's 60th anniversary, ceded to Independent Labour's request to retain the extravaganza, held last year at Byron Recreation Ground in Wealdstone. It will go ahead this year with a one-off £10,000 council subsidy and 'a 60th anniversary theme'.

Savings of £750,000 will be achieved by reducing spending on consultants by £250,000, reducing the council's top-up of the public health budget by £250,000 and shaving the contingency budget by £250,000.

Spending of £750,000 will go on:

n a mental health wellbeing centre (£50,000)

n providing mental health help and support and challenging stigma (£50,000)

n empowering low-skilled people to gain skills (£50,000)

n dementia support group at Kenmore Resources Centre (£50,000)

n project to raise black and ethnic minority community awareness of adoption and fostering (£50,000)

n improving the carers champion project (£30,000)

n investment in mental health services for children (£300,000)

n improving sports facilities, pitches and pavilions (£50,000)

n introducing on-the-spot fines for spitting, graffiti, littering and anti-social behaviour (£50,000)

n three additional rubbish dumping points (£60,000)

n keeping Under One Sky with a 60th borough anniversary theme (£10,000)