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Barnet has become the first council in the country to launch a new system designed to make it easier for residents to appeal planning decisions. The council is trialling an improved online Householder Appeals System that is simpler, accessible and more user-friendly.

Barnet Council has marked the second annual End Digital Poverty Day by pledging to continue breaking down barriers to digital access, literacy and skills. The council has signed the Charter for Digital Inclusion, a commitment to making its services more accessible to everyone in the community - particularly those with low digital skills, disabilities, or other barriers.

Barnet Council is taking early action with the aim of bringing a forecast overspend for 2024/25 back within the council’s overall budget before the end of the financial year. Like other local authorities, Barnet is facing severe financial pressures while the council’s budget has reduced in real terms by over 50% since 2010.

Celebrations were held as residents completed their move into the 249 newly acquired council homes in Colindale today (Thursday 5 September). The event, held at the latest phase of the Colindale Gardens development, marked a significant stride in Barnet’s commitment to deliver 1,000 new council homes by 2026.

A social housing tenant has been ordered to pay £40,000 in compensation after pleading guilty to illegally subletting her Barnet property. Winsome Williams made an unlawful profit over a period of more than four years by subletting the property in High Barnet to two tenants while she was living at her new home in Stevenage. The offence came to light when one of the tenants was given an eviction notice and applied for housing in October 2023.

A new public art trail celebrating past inspirational figures who have contributed to the borough’s rich and unique cultural tapestry has been launched by Barnet Council. Their achievements in the fields of art, film, literature, music, design, aviation, commerce and culture will be marked with specially commissioned, unique commemorative artworks to form an art trail. The project was curated and produced by Create London and the artworks were designed by artist and architect Edward Crooks. 

An overgrown space behind Golders Green Library is to be transformed from an empty area with limited access into an attractive garden for residents to enjoy. Barnet Council has been awarded more than £85,000 by Arts Council England to improve a previously unusable area outside the building and create a sensory reading garden.

Students across Barnet are celebrating their GCSE results today (22 August), with many schools reporting strong sets of grades. Over the last seven years, students in Barnet have performed exceptionally well in their GCSEs, with the borough ranking third highest in the country based on Attainment 8 scores for the last three years and second best in the country for Progress 8 in 2023.

Barnet Council has launched a crackdown on fly-tipping at hotspot locations around the borough as part of its Caring for our Places campaign. The initiative will see a dedicated team deployed daily to clear illegally dumped waste and gather evidence so that people who fly tip can be caught and prosecuted. It comes after more than 8,000 fly-tips were reported to the council in 2023/24, with each tonne of waste costing the council £100 to clear.

Barnet has been officially awarded Borough of Sanctuary status for its efforts in welcoming those seeking a safe place to live. The Borough of Sanctuary title is awarded by the charity City of Sanctuary UK to organisations and areas that go above and beyond to welcome those looking for a safe haven.