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Council Tax will be raised to cover increasing demand for services as government funding decreases. It will be raised by 1.99% and the Adult Social Care Precept of 2% will be applied during the next financial year, from April 1 2020. The increase – totalling 3.99% – is equivalent to £48.87 extra per year for an average Band D property.

There are lots of ways to get involved, with the centrepiece of the day being a panel discussion with a range of women from across the organisation, followed by some inspirational videos on this year’s theme of #EachforEqual.

Stop Smoking London designed the award-winning “Amazing Things Happen” campaign based on insight with London smokers, which discovered many Londoners are tired of hearing about the harm smoking does - they want to hear more about the benefits of quitting. Their research also underlined the strong social element to smoking, with three quarters of smokers interviewed saying that smoking is “normal amongst me and my friends”.

Barnet Council is seeking residents’ views on establishing a new panel to help advise and support decision making on planning applications which may have a significant impact on the heritage of the borough. The consultation, which launched on 9 March, is an opportunity for people to have their say on proposals to set up a Heritage Advisory Panel made up of building and planning experts working alongside community representatives.

The slower the illness spreads, the more prepared all of our services can be. Information about what can be done can be found at www.nhs.uk and www.phe.gov.uk, and you can find the symptom checker at: https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19. Handwashing and avoiding touching your face are two ways that the rate of infection can be significantly slowed.

The immediate priority is for you to stay safe and prevent the spread of infection. You’ll find the government’s latest guidance below my message.

Libraries All libraries in the borough will be closed from 10am on Saturday 21 March until further notice. We apologise for any inconvenience, but the safety of our staff and customers is our priority. We have extended the loan time on all the books and CDs you have borrowed for six weeks and removed all fines. Any fines due on DVDs from this time will be waived when they are returned.

If you're out in a park, please follow the government’s guidance on social distancing and stay at least two metres apart from each other.

I have been truly heartened to see how local people have rallied together and are looking out for those around them. As the Prime Minister announced last night, there are new measures in place to limit the spread of infection. For your part, you must now stay at home unless it is to shop for food or medicine, go for outdoor exercise once a day, seek medical attention, or travel to work if absolutely necessary. The police will have powers to disperse groups of people in public.

The hub manages a network of local support, coordinating Barnet Together’s established community groups and volunteers, as well as providing a non-medical urgent care helpline.