The Licensing and General Purposes Committee convened to discuss polling places, animal welfare, trading standards, environmental health and wellbeing in Barnet. Councillors approved changes to polling places, adopted an updated animal welfare licensing policy, and took note of reports on trading standards, health and safety, and the council's health and wellbeing performance. The committee also reviewed its forward work plan for the remainder of the year.

Animal Welfare Licensing Policy

The committee approved amendments to the Animal Welfare Licensing Policy, which is set to be in effect from 2026 to 2031. The updated policy includes minor formatting changes and reflects a revised publication date of December 2026.

During the discussion, councillors sought clarification on specific aspects of the policy. One question concerned the determination of applications by the Licensing Sub Committee. Jennifer Barrett, Service Manager Environmental Protection and Licensing, clarified that while it is unusual for an officer to be unable to make a determination on a licence, the policy was updated to ensure a mechanism exists for such situations.

Another area of discussion was the suspension and revocation of licences. Councillors enquired about the escalation process before a warning letter is issued. Jennifer Barrett explained that the process depends on the specific violation, but immediate suspension could be enforced if there is an imminent risk to animal welfare, in line with enforcement processes and policies.

Interim Polling District and Polling Places Review

The committee approved the Returning Officer's proposals for changes to polling districts and polling places, following a public consultation. The changes aim to improve accessibility and convenience for voters. The committee also agreed to continue conducting annual interim reviews of polling districts and polling places to identify and implement further improvements.

A key topic of discussion was the proposed use of Pye House as the new polling venue for the FGGC polling district. Councillor Nagus Narenthira asked whether the venue could be used long term and if it had disability access. John Bailey, Head of Electoral Services, confirmed that ward councillors and school governors had been consulted and assured the committee that Pye House is suitable for long-term use and offers good accessibility, including for disabled users. He added that the venue could operate as a double polling station. Councillor Dean Cohen, who was not present at the meeting, was noted to have been involved in the consultation as a governor at Menorah Primary School.

Councillor Caroline Stock raised concerns about limited parking in the area of the Baptist Church in Hendon, where she had observed chaotic parking during a recent visit. Julie Carter, Electoral Services Manager, responded that polling stations are chosen to be accessible and central to the polling district, encouraging local residents to walk. She noted that at least one parking space would be allocated for disabled users, and clear signage would be displayed.

Trading Standards Mid-Year Report 2025

The committee noted the Trading Standards Mid-Year Report 2025, which provided an overview of the team's activities and achievements over the past six months. Yvette Lynch, Head of Counter Fraud and Trading Standards, presented the report, highlighting key statistics such as the 853 cases dealt with, the £219,337.42 estimated market value of illegal, counterfeit and unsafe products seized, and the £78,000 of fines issued to non-compliant letting agents.

Councillor Nagus Narenthira commended the team for their work and achievements, particularly the recruitment of new staff and apprentices. Councillor Caroline Stock echoed this sentiment, noting the importance of fines in supporting further enforcement work.

Councillor Lachhya Bahadur Gurung enquired about online and home-based businesses, asking whether they fall under the team's remit. Yvette Lynch confirmed that Trading Standards addresses online scams and unlawful businesses, with investigations conducted based on intelligence received. Carl Schultz, Team Leader, Trading Standards, added that the team checks online businesses and, when facing challenges with overseas-based entities, disrupts their activities through website takedowns in collaboration with the National League Crimes Unit.

Councillor Tony Vourou asked how the current caseload compared to the previous year and whether the increase was due to increased staffing or more illegal activity. While comparative data was not available for the previous year, it was noted that the increased resources within the team have enabled them to adequately investigate a higher number of complaints.

Environmental Health - Commercial Health and Safety Mid-Yearly Report

The committee noted the Commercial Health and Safety Mid-Yearly Report, which summarised the activities of the Health and Safety Team within Commercial Environmental Health between 1 April 2025 and 30 September 2025. Obi Oranu, Service Manager, Environmental Health (Commercial), highlighted that enforcement was carried out on a range of premises, excluding those owned by the local authority.

Councillor Richard Barnes raised concerns about staffing levels and enquired whether operations were hindered by vacancies. Obi Oranu explained that the Food Safety Team, comprising qualified Environmental Health Officers, has a dual function and can handle both Food and Health Safety matters. Incoming cases are prioritised to ensure that officers address health and safety issues requiring mandatory investigation. The service is actively recruiting to fill vacant posts.

In response to a question about recruitment challenges, Obi Oranu acknowledged a national shortage of suitably qualified staff in regulatory services, particularly in environmental health with a specialism in health and safety.

Annual Barnet Corporate Health, Safety and Wellbeing Report 2024/25

The committee noted the Annual Barnet Corporate Health, Safety and Wellbeing Report 2024/25, which provided an update on the council's performance over the past year. Mike Koumi, Head of Safety, Health and Wellbeing, presented the report, highlighting that overall incidents remained stable, while there was an increase in the reporting of physical assaults, particularly in schools. A campaign was launched to encourage reporting for prevention, and the situation continues to be monitored.

Councillor Nagus Narenthira asked about the high number of stress-related incidents, how they compared to other boroughs, and how much was work-related stress. Mike Koumi explained that data comparison is difficult due to varying reporting methods among local authorities. He noted that Barnet's figures were about average compared to the national figure for work-related stress (54.3%). The council has set priorities to reduce work-related stress by addressing identified gaps, and feedback from staff is being used to improve outcomes.

Councillor Tony Vourou enquired about statutory building compliance in community schools and funding from the delegated schools grant (DSG). He asked whether there was sufficient funding to address building issues faced by many schools. Mike Koumi clarified that the funds relate to the delegation of responsibility to schools, with the local authority providing training to ensure schools understand their responsibilities within their budgets. He added that faith schools, not directly owned by the local authority, receive advice and guidance on managing their buildings effectively.

Committee Forward Work Plan 2025-2026

The committee noted the forward work plan for the remainder of the year. Councillor Paul Lemon, Chair of the Committee, thanked officers for their work and members for their contributions, with a special mention to Councillor Claire Farrier for her long-standing work on the committee.