Barnet Council held its annual Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) commemoration yesterday (Sunday 26 January) with a service at Middlesex University, bringing together the borough’s multifaith community to remember the Jewish victims of the Holocaust and genocides throughout the world.

Over 3,000 homes in the N10 postcode area are without gas following water from a burst main entering the gas supply network on Sunday (12 January). The postcode straddles the Barnet and Haringey border but most of the affected properties are within the borough of Barnet. Cadent, the gas supplier, has warned it will take at least a week for gas to be restored.

Cllr Tony Vourou, The Worshipful the Mayor of Barnet, has led tributes to Cllr Eva Greenspan, councillor for the Finchley Church End ward who passed away at the weekend (Saturday 11 January).

First elected in 1990, Cllr Greenspan gave nearly four decades of public service, including serving as Mayor in 2006-7 during which time she raised £250,000 for Barnet charities. In July 2024, Cllr Greenspan was recognised with a long service award.

As energy prices continue to rise, Barnet Council has launched a new campaign to support residents with free home energy efficiency advice, aimed at helping them reduce their energy bills and contribute to the borough’s ambitious goal of becoming net zero by 2042.

The Leader of the Council has announced that he is to appoint Cllr Simon Radford, current Chair of the Pension Fund Committee, to Cabinet as the portfolio holder for Financial Sustainability.

Cllr Radford’s appointment to Cabinet will start after the Full Council meeting on 28 January where it will formally be reported. The Leader will continue to hold the finance portfolio until Cllr Radford takes up his appointment.

Barnet Council’s adult social care services have been rated as ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC’s report has highlighted the council’s commitment to delivering “responsive and person-centred support”.

The report also cites the council’s efforts to help residents maintain independence and improve wellbeing.

Following the resignation of Councillor Ammar Naqvi, a by-election will be held for one councillor in the Burnt Oak ward on Thursday 13 February 2025. Polling stations in Burnt Oak will be open from 7am-10pm.

In among the cherished time we spend with family and friends, the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is usually a period for reflection and planning as we make resolutions and look to the new year with hope.

As I reflect on the past year, I’m reminded of all the people I’ve met across Barnet who serve their communities and who work together to make this borough the great place it is.

Barnet Council will host a festive Chanukah Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Hendon Town Hall on Monday, 30 December, at 5:30 PM.

The event has been organised with Barnet Council and Hendon House Chabad and will feature the lighting of the menorah and welcoming the community to celebrate the Festival of Lights together.

Contacting us

If you need to contact us over the festive period, our customer contact centre will be open as usual between Christmas and New Year (apart from Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 December and Wednesday 1 January, which are bank holidays). The out-of-hours service will still be answered 24 hours a day for emergencies. See full contact details here