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The cleansing action, which commenced in High Barnet this week, marks the start of a 13-week programme across all of the borough’s wards. Cleaning operatives from Barnet Council’s Street Scene service, will use a range of equipment including mechanical road sweepers to bring all streets to a high level of cleanliness. Residents can expect a visit from one of Street Scene’s teams who will be removing litter, weeds and detritus.

Planning briefs help set out the key parameters to guide any future planning proposals to make sure any development over the coming years fits with the council’s priorities as well as being sustainable. The three draft planning briefs relate to potential development sites at Copthall, the National Institute for Medical Research site and the North London Business Park.

The North Finchley Town Centre Framework Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which helps to define the approach for any future development within North Finchley, was unanimously agreed by Councillors at the recent committee meeting.

Throughout the week, officers from the council’s Corporate Anti-Fraud Team (CAFT), Barnet Homes, Environmental Health, Trading Standards, Insurance and Licensing teams will be carrying out a range of activities to raise awareness around the impact of fraud and other crime, what to look out for, and how to report it. It is estimated that the cost of fraud nationally to local authorities is around £2.1billion every year.

GG Property Ltd was found guilty of breaching a planning enforcement notice following a one day trial at Willesden Magistrates’ Court in a prosecution brought by Barnet Council’s planning enforcement team. The company will be sentenced at Crown Court at a later date. The owners of the building in The Drive, Golders Green, ignored repeated requests from council planners instructing the company to carry out work to ensure the property was not subdivided into self-contained flats, each equipped with individual kitchens and bathrooms.

In particular, the council is asking residents to use the report a problem function on the council’s website to report fly-tips and litter, to recycle as much as possible and to take the time to visit and enjoy the wonderful facilities on offer in the borough’s parks and open spaces. In the past 12 months, the council has received and investigated more than 6,000 requests from residents who have used the council’s Report a Problem function on the council website. By signing up to the council’s My Account service, residents can also track the progress of their report.

Cameras are to be worn on officers’ uniforms, and will only start recording after a person has been observed committing an offence. As part of the use of the cameras, those being recorded will be told as soon as is practically possible that they are being filmed. The cameras will provide officers with a record of everything that is said, which can also be used to make sure officers are carrying out the correct procedures.

An eight-week consultation was launched on 1 February asking people for their opinions on a range of options to develop and improve early help services to achieve the best outcomes for families in need of support. The consultation, which runs until 27 March, will help shape more detailed proposals which will be considered by councillors later in the year.

Barnet Council’s Environment Committee is set to discuss a long term strategy examining ways the council will encourage more recycling and reduce the levels of waste the borough produces when it meets on Monday 11 January.  

Led by GRAHAM Construction, these works will pave the way for a brand new Community Centre to be opened in autumn 2018. The Tarling Road Community Hub will replace the Old Barn community centre and create a brand new facility, which will provide a shared space for local community groups. Once built, the new centre will be home to a number of local community groups, including the Somali Bravanese Welfare Association (SBWA).