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Barnet’s business community is being offered a free support service, as part of a package of council measures to help local employers bounce back from the economic hit caused by the pandemic lockdowns.

A statement from the Mayor Following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the Mayor of Barnet has thanked the residents and faith and community groups who have already done so much to help those affected and highlighted some of the initiatives currently underway in the borough. Mayor of Barnet Cllr Alison Cornelius said:

Councillor Reuben Thompstone, Chairman of the Community Leadership and Libraries Committee, said: “Dr Shah was a well-known figure in our borough whose work touched many of our lives. As Chair of the Jain Network Dr Shah worked tirelessly to represent the Jain faith and promote its values, both here in Barnet and across the world. He was also a strong advocate of inter faith understanding, and a longstanding member of the Barnet Multi Faith Forum executive committee.

At an extraordinary meeting of the council on 1 March 2022 it was agreed that Cllr John Marshall be awarded the Honorary Freedom of the Borough which The Worshipful Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Alison Cornelius, presented to him on behalf of the Council. It is the highest award that can be bestowed in the Borough of Barnet and was awarded in recognition of the dedication to public service by John Marshall to residents over four decades.

The 11-foot bronze Grade II listed ‘Peace’ statue – which stands on top of 200 tonnes of Devon granite – was first installed in the beauty spot in March 1911. It had been donated by wealthy benefactor Sydney Simmons, who paid for the purchase of the Friary Estate, on the condition that it forever remain a public park.

Barnet Council has completed the first phase of its plan to increase the energy efficiency of a number of council-owned buildings. The £1.38million upgrade is part of the council’s wider commitment to becoming ‘carbon net zero’ by 2030 as an organisation. Phase one of the project has delivered a variety of energy-efficiency measures across Barnet Council buildings, including heat pumps, solar panels, battery storage and building management systems, installed in council offices, libraries, children’s centres and two primary schools.

Barnet Council is encouraging residents planning celebrations for Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, to make sure they apply for a street party license before the deadline of 8 April. Celebratory events, including street parties and big lunches organised by residents and community groups, will be held across the borough and nationally to mark Her Majesty’s 70-year reign, across the special Bank Holiday weekend from Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5 June.

Barnet’s services for children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) have been found to be making a real difference, according to the findings of a joint Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) report.

Two years ago today (23 March) saw the UK go into its first lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and across Barnet people are reflecting on the impact it has had. Twenty-four months on and nearly a third of Barnet’s population has been infected with the virus (115,417), over two-thirds have been vaccinated and, sadly, 1,078 people have lost their lives.

Barnet Council is marking the 16 Days of Activism to challenge gender-based violence from today (Friday 25 November). The council has launched a three-year zero-tolerance plan to combat domestic violence and violence against women and girls (VAWG). Cllr Sara Conway, Chair of the Safer Communities Partnership Board, said: “The 16 Days of Activism is an important global campaign by the United Nations against gender-based violence.