Virtually every Harrow Council meeting open to the public has been postponed in the run-up to this year’s General Election on December 12.

A spokesman for the council explained this is partially due to rules around public announcements by local authorities during this period, known as purdah.

He added that moving several meetings until later in December, and into the new year, will “take pressure” of the council’s democratic services team dealing with another unplanned general election.

Some councillors are standing as candidates in the election, and while they might have been required to attend meetings, this enables them to focus on campaigning.

Labour councillor Pamela Fitzpatrick is standing in Harrow East, a seat currently held by Conservative MP Bob Blackman.

Her colleague Cllr Peymana Assad hopes to represent Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, which was previously held by Nick Hurd.

And Conservative councillor Anjana Patel is hoping to oust Labour’s Barry Gardiner in Brent North, while Labour’s Cllr Antonio Weiss is seeking election in Tunbridge Wells hoping to unseat Greg Clark.

So far, ten Harrow Council meetings scheduled for November and December and open to the public have been pushed back.

The standard advisory council for religious education and the planning committee are scheduled to meet on December 10 and 11 respectively.