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The Prime Minister was taken on a tour of the Stonegrove Estate in Edgware - one of Barnet’s flagship regeneration schemes - where she pledged that is her personal mission to build more homes, more quickly across the UK. The regeneration of the Stonegrove and Spur Road Estates has created a new integrated community by replacing the existing homes with a new mixed tenure housing development. This includes 999 new homes, 451 of which are affordable, as well as the re-provision of a joint church and community centre.

Staff are expected to start moving over to the new 90,000 square foot office development in 2018, which will save £1 million a year through reduced running costs. This is on top of the £4.5 million a year that has already been saved from moving out of one of the buildings at the North London Business Park in New Southgate, the council's main office site alongside Barnet House in Whetstone.  

Already one of the greenest boroughs in London, the council is committed to planting more trees in its parks, which will also help improve air quality. Using the grant money, major planting took place last week, with 25 trees planted in Oak Hill Park and Woodcroft Park, planting major shade trees close to the Orion School. In addition to this, the council will be shading children’s play areas in Brunswick Park and Basing Hill Park, as well as improving the entrance to Lyndhurst Park.

On November 7 a new lower benefit cap was introduced in Barnet which will reduce the annual amount which households in London can receive from benefits from £26,000 per year to £23,000. Two new exemptions have been introduced for certain carers and guardians. For those households being capped for the first time, the changes will come into effect from Monday 2 January 2017.  It is anticipated the lower benefit cap will affect around 1,000 households in Barnet.

The meeting will now take place on Monday 26 June and arrangements for the meeting will be confirmed nearer the time. The council has contacted members of the public due to speak at the meeting directly. Those who have already submitted views will not be required to resubmit them. The deadline for any new submissions for the re-arranged date will be Wednesday 21 June. The Re contract delivers a wide range of services including highways, planning, regeneration, environmental health, trading standards and the Hendon Cemetery and Crematorium.

Willesden Magistrates’ Court ruled that Barnet Council will now be able to begin enforcement action against the owners of the house in Clifton Gardens, Golders Green, despite their claims the work had immunity because it was carried out more than four years ago and attracted no complaints.

The new library is a three minute walk from the old site and is situated on Regents Park Road, providing modern, fit for purpose library facilities and delivering significant benefits for local residents. The library is one of Barnet Council’s four “Core Plus” libraries, providing the most extensive range of services and opening hours, whilst delivering a wide range of reading, learning, and cultural events.

At a meeting of last night’s full council, councillors unanimously agreed to appoint John Hooton to the role of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service at the London Borough of Barnet. Mr Hooton has been interim Chief Executive at Barnet since May 2016. Prior to that, he served as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Finance Director, having joined the council in 2010.

Silver Sunday kicks off Silver Week with a free afternoon tea at Woodhouse College, hosted by the council and Barnet Seniors Assembly. Silver Week will see those over 55 invited to a variety of activities and events, such as: art exhibitions, coffee mornings, well-being workshops, kayaking taster sessions, afternoon teas, relaxing therapy treatments, health walks and much more.

Barnet has the largest population of any London borough and is home to a high number of older people, many of whom require care. Following consultation the precept will be applied to Council Tax bills and will generate an additional £4.6 million per year, adding £2.80 per month for a band D property in 2017/18. Last night’s full council also approved plans to fill its total budget gap of £53.8 million until 2020 as pressure on services continues and income from central Government decreases.