The leader of Harrow Borough Council's Independent Labour group says his party’s alternative budget is the best for Harrow.

Cllr Thaya Idaikkadar yesterday put forward his party’s budget for Harrow Borough Council for the coming year.

The group says it will spend more than £2million and put it back into key services.

Headline figures include £400,000 for children’s services, £275,000 for adults' services and £100,000 for improving the environment of the borough.

A large part of the party’s budget will go on a voucher scheme for all taxpayers, which the group says will be equivalent to a one per cent reduction in council tax, costing £950,000.

Cllr Idaikkadar said: “I think this is the best budget for Harrow under the circumstances we are under and things could always change in this economic climate.

“This whole budget has been looked at properly and isn’t something we have just come up with.

“Both Labour and the Conservatives will be taking from one pot and putting it in another. This has been going on for too long and more of the same will not do.

“We are pragmatic socialists with the ethos of common sense which will provide value for money. We believe that the basic principles of fairness, care and economic competence do not have to be mutually exclusive.

“We are pressing hard to ensure residents are not forgotten by the political class and will support whoever is willing to take the side of the people of Harrow, rather than playing party politics.”

Money for the spending will come from cash set aside by the previous Labour administration in contingency funds, savings in the use of consultancy staff and the streamlining of council management staff.

The group also claims it will spend £50,000 reintroducing the Taxicard scheme for disabled people that was scrapped last year and more than £10,000 on holding the Under One Sky festival in the summer.