Barnet Council has made its first prosecution against a local business owner, for false applications for coronavirus Small Business Grants for a business that was no longer trading.

Mr Samuel Gabay, who owned Finest Catering Limited trading as SAMI’s restaurant, pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud at Willesden Magistrates Court and was fined £1,000.

Barnet Council held a Holocaust Memorial Commemoration on Sunday 23 January with a service at Middlesex University. The event was cancelled in 2021 due to COVID-19, although an online Service was held instead. The event brought together members of the borough’s Jewish community, as well as members of Barnet’s other numerous communities.

The #KeepTheVirusOut campaign urges everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccines and booster, wear a face covering in public places, let fresh air in, meet outdoors, rapid test and PCR test and isolate if feeling unwell.

The campaign comes as rates of COVID-19 in Barnet are at the highest they have been since the pandemic began with over a quarter of residents yet to get their first vaccine. Barnet Council is working with local community groups and businesses to encourage uptake of the vaccine as well as following COVID-19 safety advice. 

The current proposals are for a type of road closure known as traffic filters – enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras – in Booth Road and The Greenway, Colindale. The aim is to reduce non-residential vehicles passing through these roads to improve the quality of life for residents in these areas, which would also improve road safety and air quality.

Barnet Council has secured over £3.5m in grant funding to deliver 500 on-street electric vehicle charge points by November 2022.

Barnet currently has the second highest rate of electric car ownership in London and the grant from the Office of Zero Emissions Vehicles (OZEV) will see the charge points installed in 34 of Barnet’s residential streets by November 2022.

For this reason, we’ve partnered up with Kooth.com, a digital counselling service, open to any young person aged 11 to 25 who would like to receive confidential support and advice. Talking to someone anonymous can often help to relieve any negative feelings you may be experiencing.

We’ve also partnered with Papyrus HOPELINEUK, for children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide. The service offers free, confidential support and practical advice.