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More than 100 schools in Barnet were recently given STARS (Sustainable Travel; Active, Responsible, Safe) accreditation by Transport for London (TfL) for successfully implementing initiatives that aim to reduce car use while commuting to school. In total, 105 schools were awarded STARS accreditation this year with 23 receiving bronze, 19 silver and 63 gold. This is the highest number of STARS awarded to Barnet schools, since the beginning of the accreditation scheme in 2007.

Nominations for the 2017 awards are open until 31 December. The awards, which are now in their 17th year, are a chance for the borough to officially acknowledge the dedication and hard work of those who strive to make a positive difference to people’s lives. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony held in March next year hosted by the Worshipful the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor David Longstaff.

Councillor David Longstaff, Mayor of Barnet and Chairman of Barnet’s Community Leadership Committee, said: "We are looking forward to welcoming everyone on Friday 25 November at the Sangam Centre. “Locally we know that an average of around 2500 cases of reported domestic violence and abuse (DVA) are reported in Barnet each year. “This event demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that all members of our community in Barnet are safe, especially women, girls and those who suffer DVA.

The event, held at Allianz Park on Thursday 23 February, gave young people the chance to give the council their views on how services for them can be improved. Participants from the borough’s schools, colleges, youth groups and charities took part, voicing their opinions on a range of topics from young people’s emotional wellbeing, to youth services and the best ways for young people’s voices to be heard. Discussing topics in groups, young people were able to type out their views and opinions which were then projected live on to the walls of the room.

This year, the council received 7,887 applications; 4,094 from Barnet residents and 3,793 from residents in other boroughs. Of those who applied, nearly 70 per cent were successful in securing a place at their first choice of secondary school. This year, over 86 per cent who applied were offered at least one of their top three preferences.

“This was a callous attack on innocent people enjoying an evening out in one of the most vibrant parts of London. This has understandably left many people in our great city feeling shocked and saddened. At the same time, we cannot let attacks like this change the way we live our lives. “The true spirit of our great country was captured at last night’s tribute concert to honour those hurt or killed in the recent attack in Manchester, and we must all carry on standing united against acts of terror.

The London Residential Property Tribunal upheld the council’s decision to prevent the cramped conversion behind shops in Cricklewood Broadway from being used as housing, following an appeal by the property’s landlord. The conclusion of the appeal process on 24 February 2016 came after officers from the council’s Environmental Health Team* inspected the studio flat last year. The unit, which was accessed by a narrow alleyway used for storing bins and for deliveries to shops, was being let to a couple with a young baby.

In the biggest planning enforcement and confiscation investigation the borough has ever seen, landlord Saied Rahmdezfouli was ordered to pay over £700,000. The record sentence was imposed at Wood Green Crown Court on 21 September. Mr Rahmdezfouli was originally found guilty of the planning offences at Wood Green Crown Court in August 2015. The case was referred for confiscation from the council’s CAFT, which had been conducting the financial investigation in parallel with the planning enforcement investigation since 2010.

As well as setting out the council’s priorities and what it will do to achieve them, the Plan to 2020 also includes the performance targets against which progress is monitored. Performance against the Plan is scrutinised quarterly, in public, through the Performance and Contract Management Committee. Each year, the council will publish an addendum to its five-year Plan which sets out updated, and in many cases, more stretching – targets for the year ahead. 

The exhibition, which will focus on Yad Vashem, is a dedication to Holocaust remembrance, documentation, research and education that seeks to meaningfully share the legacy of the Shoah for generations to come.   Its mission is to document the remaining survivor testimonies, and through digital technology, keep the memories alive for the world to remember and learn from this unprecedented genocide.