Harlow Council set to approve £32 million investment in improving council facilities and services

Harlow Council is set to invest millions of pounds to improve local services and facilities as part of its budget proposals for 2024 to 2025.

In a budget which protects all council services from cuts, there will also be major investments in much-loved community services such as Pets’ Corner, Harlow Playhouse, Harlow Museum, paddling pools and splash parks.

The proposed £32.8 million programme of improvements include:

£660,000 investment to upgrade Harlow Museum

£350,000 investment to upgrade facilities at the Playhouse

£35,000 project to upgrade the central island of Pets’ Corner to enhance visitor experience

Investment into further upgrade of the much-loved paddling pools and splash parks

The council is also proposing to:

Invest £1.2 million to upgrade council-owned assets such as shopping hatches and neighbourhood shopping centres and there’s a new Neighbourhood Renewal Fund to deliver targeted neighbourhood renewal projects across the town

Invest £830,000 into enhancing the Latton Bush Centre to support local small and medium businesses, charities and community organisations

Invest £200,00 in measures to install protective barriers around the town’s green spaces to stop unauthorised traveller encampments

Significantly invest in a further roll out of CCTV to crack down on anti-social behaviour and crime

Significantly invest into infrastructure for which Harlow council is responsible including unadopted highways and roads, drainage clearance, flood alleviation and council-owned car parks

The programme overall will support the council’s new priorities to renew our neighbourhoods, rebuild our town, protect our communities, and deliver high-performing council services.

Commenting on the proposals, the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance, Councillor James Leppard, said: “We know how much local residents enjoy our fantastic community facilities and services and that’s why not only are we investing more in the day-to-day running of the services, but also investing significantly to further enhance and improve our facilities.

“Whether it’s upgrading the Museum, Playhouse, Pets’ Corner or our splash parks, to enhancing the Latton Bush Centre, to installing more CCTV and barriers to stop unauthorised traveller encampments, we are investing significantly in Harlow residents’ priorities whilst freezing our share of council tax.”

The council’s budget proposals will be discussed at this Thursday’s (15 February) Cabinet meeting and debated at the Full Council meeting on 22 February 2024.