The budget for the Mayor of Harrow for the financial year has been overspent by nearly £45,000.

The figures for Mayor of Harrow Borough Council, Councillor Nana Asante's year in office were revealed in a council meeting showing she had overspent by £44,586.

Every year the mayor is given a budget to pay for functions they host, support staff, travel expenses and sustenance.

For the last financial year the Mayor was given a budget of £182,740, but spent a total of £227,326.

Leader of the Harrow Labour Group David Perry said: "It is disgraceful that at a time when residents are being hit hard by the cuts and cost of living crisis the Mayor of Harrow Council has been allowed to heavily overspend her office budget by £45,000.

“It is unfair that the taxpayer will have to pay for this overspend.

"To make matters worse the Tory leader of the council is turning a blind eye, as a result of the back room deal Susan Hall made with the Independent Group in return for their support for the Conservatives taking control of Harrow Council.”

Cabinet member for resources Cllr Paul Osborn said the overspend was contained within the council’s resources budget.

He said for the year the budget was projected to underspend by £437,000.

Cllr Osborn said: "How actively the Mayor engages with Harrow's diverse communities has a significant impact on the budget, and this year the Mayor has attended 456 engagements.

“Therefore, the Mayor's budget is a difficult one to set; the previous Labour administration increased it by £20,000 one year, then cut it by £20,000 the following year.

"The cut to the Mayor’s Office budget makes this year's overspend seem more significant than past years.

“Mayoral overspends have occurred under all parties including overspends of £22,000 in 2009-10 and £19,000 in 2012-13.

“I find it interesting that Labour only seem to care about any overspend when the Mayor isn't one of their own members.”