Women and ethnic minorities must be better represented across the whole of Harrow Council’s workforce, its chief executive said.

Sean Harriss, who has served as CEO since 2019, told a council scrutiny committee that more must be done to improve diversity among his staff.

He explained Harrow’s demographic make-up is well represented across the council workforce at most levels but falls short in the top pay grades.

“Diversity is not good enough at the most senior levels – we don’t have as much as I’d like to see and as much as we ought to have,” he said.

“We do have a very diverse workforce that reflects the borough well, just not in the top five per cent.

“We need to identify the very obvious talent in all groups and find out why they haven’t had the chance to be in these positions.”

He explained that hiring a black woman as the new director for human resources – as well as the appointment of a second woman to the council’s strategic development board – were “encouraging small steps”.

Harrow Council notes that, in serving a diverse population it aims to make sure that there is equality of opportunity for applicants “irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation”.

Mr Harriss also spoke of an overall need to support staff culture to ensure that the council runs at its most effective.

He explained that there have been investments into staff training and HR, while there are plans in place to systemise communication between all departments.

“I’m a strong believer in investing in our staff because, in the public sector, that can make the difference,” he said.