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Following the Government’s Local Government Finance Settlement announcement on December 15, Barnet Council has updated its annual budget consultation to ask residents’ views on whether the council should use the additional flexibility provided to apply an increased social care precept to Council Tax bills in 2017/18.

Officers carrying out spot checks across the Finchley Central and North Finchley areas on 23 August found 10 badges being misused by drivers to avoid parking restrictions, and were able to seize a total of eight permits, two of which were found to be stolen. The operation also involved police officers and parking enforcement officers. Motorists caught during the operation could now face prosecution. In the last three months, Barnet’s Corporate Anti-Fraud Team (CAFT) has brought more than 10 cases of blue badge fraud before the courts.

Annual performance statistics for 2017 show that Key Stage 2 pupils achieving the expected standard were again above the national average for reading, writing and maths combined. They were also above the national average for the separate subjects of reading, writing, GPS (grammar, punctuation and spelling), mathematics and science. All subjects saw improved results compared to 2016.

The wide variety of events include; Tai Chi in the park, social and informal IT sessions, tea dances, Bollywood dancing 50 + fitness and much more. Silver Sunday is a national annual event celebrated on or around 2 October; it is led by the charity, the Sir Simon Milton Foundation to combat loneliness and isolation. There are 472 events around the UK, with over 60 taking place in the borough, running from 1 October until 7 October. Cllr Sachin Rajput, Chairman of Barnet’s Adults and Safeguarding Committee, said:

The Brent Cross Cricklewood development is Barnet Council’s most significant growth and regeneration programme. There will be an opportunity to hear about the scheme in more detail and to view the plans for the replacement waste transfer station and the modernised rail freight facility. It will be an open drop-in session between 4pm and 8.30pm with opportunities to hear a short presentation with more detail at 5pm and 7pm.

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. Barnet’s dedicated counter-fraud team, CAFT, work to protect the public purse and detect, disrupt and investigate those intent on committing fraud.

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.