Opposition councillors have raised concerns over a cleaner borough investment which they say will leave "a black hole" in the budget.

The comments come following yesterday’s announcement from Harrow Borough Council of a £500,000 investment in services such as litter clearing and parks maintenance.

Harrow Council's Labour group have attacked the Conservative administration and leader of the council Cllr Susan Hall, who announced the investment, for being irresponsible with council finances.

Cllr Sachin Shah, Labour's member for finance, said: "Susan Hall appears to be using a fund created by Labour to pay for these projects, but that money runs out at the end of this year.

“It is only because of Labour's ability to manage the books she has any money to spend at all.

“Her new announcement will create a massive black hole in the council finances for next year, and shows she has not got her eye on the ball.

“This type of back of the fag packet budgeting is not only irresponsible, it is dangerous too. The people of Harrow deserve better."

In response Cllr Hall said: “With this Conservative administration you get the grass cut, with the previous Labour administration you got your job cut – as they had intended to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds of this secretive Priority Initiatives fund on making staff redundant."