We’re marking the first anniversary of MyHarrowTalk – the council’s consultation and engagement portal.
Since February 2023, more than 25,000 people have taken the opportunity to get more involved in decision-making that shapes how we provide services to Harrow people.
From improving Harrow Town Centre and planning policies to our climate strategy, cycling schemes and budget-making decisions, www.talk.harrow.gov.uk has been visited 37,000 times by 25,000 individuals - generating 3,500 survey responses on the issues that matter to them.
The site is fast becoming the go-to place as an information hub. With the use of maps, photographs, drawings and videos to explain what’s happening in their local community, residents then have all the information they need to make their views known. We’ve run 32 consultations online in the past year, and these have been supported by a range of face-to-face engagement events.
Councillor Jean Lammiman, London Borough of Harrow’s Cabinet Member for Community and Culture said knowing where to go to find out more on issues affecting the local community was vital and helped to restore pride in Harrow.
“We wanted to put residents at the heart of decision-making. It’s why we made this a flagship action, making it easier for residents to know what’s going on, share their ideas and have their say on issues that affect them and their neighbourhoods.
“I’m delighted that thousands of people have been getting involved, looking at the information we are providing and deciding whether they want to respond or not.”
The portal has also used interactive maps and frequently asked questions to help residents take part in consultations. Paper survey results are also added into the system to create reports that tell councillors what you think.
Cllr Stephen Greek, Cabinet Member responsible for Performance, Communications, and Customer Experience, said that introducing consultation standards across the organisation had improved the quality of contact for many Harrow residents.
“It’s vital that residents get the opportunity to have their say and MyHarrow Talk has helped us do that. It’s just one tool we use to co-ordinate how we engage with residents on matters that affect them. It’s one of many ways we are improving the customer experience and putting residents first when it comes to key decisions.”
We’ve also run virtual sessions, where people can join online while our experts explain proposals and are available to answer questions. These are in addition to events held in the community at different times of the week.
Once consultations have closed and councillors make decisions, registered users receive an email telling them what’s happening, and the information is added to the MyHarrowTalk site.