This week in Barnet:

Pharmacy Services and Local Care Estates Under Review

The North Central London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) convened to discuss the state of community pharmacy services and local care estates in the region. The meeting highlighted both the strengths and challenges facing healthcare provision in Barnet and its neighbouring boroughs.

• Pharmacy Accessibility: Pharmacies are highly accessible, with 94.6% of people finding them easy to reach. They are also seen as the most accessible healthcare setting for 37% of people who struggle to access GP services.
• Cost Concerns: A significant 25% of patients reported delaying or skipping medication due to cost, raising concerns about the impact of financial pressures on health outcomes.
• Pharmacy First Success: The Pharmacy First service, available in 95% of NCL pharmacies, is proving popular for minor illnesses like sore throats and urinary tract infections.
• Local Care Investment: While there's a commitment to invest 5% of ICS capital allocation in local care infrastructure, a 10-year forecast reveals a £233m funding gap, posing a challenge to future development.
• Estate Improvements: Recent achievements include the opening of The Muswell Hill Practice and the Welbourne Centre, showcasing progress in improving local care facilities.

The committee also discussed its terms of reference and work programme, planning to address topics like the St Pancras Hospital Programme and NCL Finance in future meetings.

Council Considers Gambling Reform, Housing Crisis, and Climate Action

The Council met to discuss a range of pressing issues, including motions on national gambling reform, the housing crisis, and climate change. These discussions reflect the council's focus on addressing key challenges facing the borough and its residents. No transcript or video of the meeting was provided.

• Gambling Reform: A motion was proposed to support national gambling reform, addressing gambling addiction as an escalating national issue with serious social and economic implications. The motion called for the council to join a coalition of local authorities urging the government to reform gambling laws and restore decision-making powers to local authorities.
• Housing Crisis: A motion was proposed welcoming the government's determination to tackle the housing crisis, noting the high number of households on the waiting list for social housing in Barnet and the increasing cost of temporary accommodation.
• Climate Change: A motion was introduced on continuing to tackle climate change in Barnet, recommitting the council to transforming Barnet into a Net Zero borough by 2042 and working with the Labour Government and the Mayor of London to address climate change.
• Pension Fund Rectification: The council was scheduled to receive an update on actions taken to address unlawful payments into and out of the Barnet Pension Fund, following a report issued in January 2025.
• EV Charging Points: The council was scheduled to receive a deputation regarding EV charging points, with concerns raised about the lack of specific location details in the original planning application letter.

Other Matters

• The Barnet Children's Partnership Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday 09 July 2025 was postponed.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a summary of upcoming meetings and their main topics:

• Planning Committee (New) on Monday 21 July 2025 - Meeting Link. The committee will be discussing tree preservation orders, extensions, and electric vehicle charging points.
• Welsh Harp Joint Consultative Committee on Monday 21 July 2025 - Meeting Link
• Licensing Sub-Committee on Tuesday 22 July 2025 - Meeting Link. The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to convene to discuss a new premises licence application for Atmosphere Restaurant.
• Cabinet on Tuesday 22 July 2025 - Meeting Link
• Strategic Planning Committee on Wednesday 23 July 2025 - Meeting Link
• Health & Wellbeing Board on Thursday 24 July 2025 - Meeting Link
• Licensing Sub-Committee on Thursday 17 July 2025 - Meeting Link. The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to convene to consider a request to vary the premises licence for The Coffee Place & Breakfast, and to agree on a hearings procedure.
• Strategic Planning Committee on Monday 14 July 2025 - Meeting Link. The Strategic Planning Committee of Barnet Council was scheduled to meet to discuss planning applications for Barnet Playing Fields and Bunns Lane Car Park, as well as approve the minutes from their previous meeting.
• Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday 16 July 2025 - Meeting Link. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to meet to discuss community safety, youth justice, financial performance and budget management.

This week in Barnet:

Pension Fund Faces Audit Disclaimer Over Data Concerns

The Local Pension Board met to discuss the administration and compliance of the pension fund, but a looming disclaimer from external auditors Grant Thornton (GT) over data issues has cast a shadow over the proceedings.

• Audit Concerns: GT expects to issue a disclaimer of opinion on the 2023/24 annual accounts due to a lack of assurance on opening balances from April 2023. This means the auditors cannot verify the accuracy of the fund's financial position at the start of that year.
• 'Except For' Qualification: The auditors also plan an except for qualification on comparative figures in the 2024/25 annual accounts, indicating further concerns about the reliability of financial data.
• Impact on Pensioners: These audit issues raise questions about the accuracy of pension calculations and the overall financial health of the fund, potentially impacting the retirement security of Barnet's public sector workers.
• Data Issues: The board also discussed a data improvement plan, revealing that there were initially approximately 28,500 data items that needed correction. While this number has been reduced to around 6,250, the scale of the initial problem highlights the challenges in maintaining accurate pension records.
• Capita Data Loss: The Board was informed that Capita Payroll had deleted historic payroll data prior to 2017, citing GDPR¹ reasons. While Capita has since confirmed they will provide all data to the council, including pre-2017 information, the incident underscores the vulnerability of sensitive pension data.

The situation echoes previous concerns raised about data management within the council, as seen in the last few months, and highlights the importance of robust data governance to protect the interests of pension fund members.

Licensing Committee Reviews Electoral Services Amid Postal Vote Concerns

The Licensing and General Purposes Committee reviewed the 2024 Electoral Services Report, revealing a rise in registered electors but also highlighting challenges related to postal vote renewals and EU citizens' voting rights following Brexit.

• Electorate Growth: Barnet's electorate grew by 3,229 to 268,123 in 2024, including 632 eligible 16- and 17-year-olds, 30,318 EU nationals, and over 54,000 postal voters.
• Postal Vote Renewal Challenge: John Bailey, Head of Electoral Services, acknowledged a nationwide challenge in getting people to re-register for postal votes due to the timing of the general election. He stated that the council is prioritizing contacting electors with emails and will then move to postal communication.
• EU Citizen Status: The Elections Act 2022 required manual review of over 9,000 EU citizens' settled status, leading to some being removed from the register.
• Open Register Opt-Out: A significant 73.4% of electors opt out of the open register, a subset of the full register available for purchase. Bailey noted that political parties receive the full register, and the open register is becoming less valuable for commercial purposes.

Councillor Caroline Stock asked if there would be any issues getting people to re-register for postal votes. John Bailey, Head of Electoral Services, responded that it was a challenge across the country, particularly in London, due to the timing of the general election. He noted that the council was focusing on electors with emails and would move on to contacting them by post.

The report highlights the ongoing efforts to maintain an accurate and inclusive electoral register, while also navigating the complexities of changing legislation and voter preferences.

Health and Safety Team Faces Staffing Shortages

The Licensing and General Purposes Committee also discussed the Commercial Environmental Health - Health and Safety Annual Report 2024/2025, revealing significant staffing challenges within the team responsible for workplace safety across the borough.

• Restructure and Vacancies: The team underwent a restructure earlier in the year and is currently carrying a number of vacancies, leading to concerns about its capacity to effectively oversee health and safety in approximately 17,368 workplaces in Barnet.
• Recruitment Challenges: Ellis Smallcombe, Head of Environmental Health Consumer and Public Protection, cited a shortage of environmental health officers and competition from the private sector as key recruitment obstacles.
• Accident Investigations: The team received 178 accident reports and formally investigated 10 accidents during the reporting period.
• Impact on Businesses: The staff shortage could lead to fewer proactive inspections and slower responses to safety concerns, potentially putting workers at risk.

Councillor Caroline Stock asked about the staff shortage and whether Middlesex University could provide students to help. Ellis Smallcombe, Head of Environmental Health Consumer and Public Protection, responded that the council was thinking about how to grow its own staff and support students from Middlesex University. She noted that many students were already employed through apprenticeships.

The report underscores the need for the council to address the staffing shortage to ensure adequate protection of workers' health and safety in Barnet's businesses.

Other Matters

• Licensing Applications: The Licensing and General Purposes Committee received the Annual Report on Licensing Applications, noting a small increase in applications overall, with 1,634 received during the period.
• Licensing Action Group (LAG): The committee heard that the monthly Licensing Action Group (LAG) meetings have been successful in bringing together responsible authorities to discuss premises of note and applications, helping to limit the number of cases that reach the licensing subcommittees.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a summary of upcoming meetings and their main topics:

• Council on Tuesday 08 July 2025 - Meeting Link. The Council will be discussing motions on national gambling reform, housing, and climate change, as well as reports from various committees and officers.
• Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Friday 11 July 2025 - Meeting Link
• Strategic Planning Committee on Monday 14 July 2025 - Meeting Link
• Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday 16 July 2025 - Meeting Link
• Licensing Sub-Committee on Thursday 17 July 2025 - Meeting Link. The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to convene to consider a request to vary the premises licence for The Coffee Place & Breakfast, and to agree on a hearings procedure.

This week in Barnet:

Schools Forum Discusses Funding Challenges

The Schools Forum met this week to discuss a range of issues affecting schools in the borough, including funding challenges. No transcript or video of the meeting was provided.

The Schools Forum is a statutory body made up of headteachers, governors, and other representatives from different types of schools in Barnet. It advises the council on school funding matters.

Given the financial pressures facing schools across the country, discussions likely focused on how to best allocate resources to ensure that all students receive a high-quality education.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a summary of upcoming meetings and their main topics:

• Licensing and General Purposes Committee on Tuesday 01 July 2025 - Meeting Link. The committee will be looking at reports on electoral services, licensing applications, and commercial environmental health. Also on the agenda is the committee's forward work plan for the coming year.
• Local Pension Board on Wednesday 02 July 2025 - Meeting Link. The Local Pension Board is scheduled to receive an update on the annual accounts and external audit, and will also discuss the West Yorkshire Pension Fund's performance, the annual report, risk registers and training, as well as an update on the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Council on Tuesday 08 July 2025 - Meeting Link
• Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Friday 11 July 2025 - Meeting Link

This week in Barnet:

Golders Green Gaming Centre Approved Despite Resident Fears

The Licensing Sub-Committee granted a new Adult Gaming Centre Licence for Palace Amusements at 4-6 North End Road, Golders Green, despite strong objections from local residents. The decision has raised concerns about the protection of children and vulnerable persons in the area.

• Resident Concerns: Residents voiced fears that the gaming centre's proximity to schools, a transport hub, and a halfway house would increase the risk of gambling exposure for vulnerable individuals. They also worried about increased crime and disorder, and the area becoming oversaturated with gambling establishments. One resident described Golders Green as the Las Vegas of North London.
• Applicant Assurances: Woods Whur, representing the applicant, East Kent Leasing Ltd, stated the company has experience operating Adult Gaming Centres and has never been subject to a licence review or had any regulatory issues raised by the Gambling Commission. They also highlighted measures to prevent underage gambling and support vulnerable individuals.
• Police Support: The sub-committee noted that the police did not object to the licence and had agreed to additional conditions with the applicant.
• Sub-Committee Decision: The sub-committee stated that it had carefully considered all information, including the Gambling Act 2005, Gambling Commission guidance, and the council's Statement of Principles. They concluded that the application, with the agreed conditions, was consistent with the licensing objectives.

Councillor Giulia Innocenti spoke on behalf of residents in her ward, highlighting their concerns about the potential negative impact on the community. Despite these concerns, the sub-committee ultimately decided to approve the licence, emphasizing the applicant's experience and the additional conditions put in place to mitigate potential risks.

Pension Fund Committee Focuses on Risk Management and Asset Pooling

The Pension Fund Committee met to discuss a range of issues, including risk management, the triennial valuation, and asset pooling.

• Historic Prepayment: The committee agreed to take no further action regarding a historic prepayment of pension contributions by the council, accepting the recommendation of the council's independent financial consultant.
• Risk Registers: The committee reviewed the pension fund risk registers, noting that 25 out of 33 listed items in the Pension Administration Risk Register required action. An officer clarified that an in-depth review of all the risks would be undertaken.
• Triennial Valuation: The committee received an update on the 2025 triennial valuation, which will determine the funding position of the pension scheme and set contribution rates from April next year.
• Asset Pooling: The committee received an update on asset pooling, including the government's Pensions Investment Review and the draft transition plan for the London Borough of Barnet's Pension Fund to be fully pooled by 31 March 2026.
• Property Pooling: The committee approved signing up to the London CIV's fee negotiation and monitoring service for the fund's £30m investment in the CBRE Global Alpha Fund.
• Investment Performance: The fund's investment portfolio on 31 March 2025 was £1.71bn, representing a 0.9% return over the quarter.

Cabinet Approves Edgware Regeneration Plan Amid Consultation Concerns

The Cabinet approved a proposal to use future Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)¹ funds from the Edgware Town Centre regeneration scheme to support infrastructure improvements. The decision, however, was met with questions about resident consultation.

• Consultation Concerns: Councillor Peter Zinkin, Leader of the Conservative Group, raised concerns about the consultation process with residents, particularly the Save Our Edgware Group.
• CIL Allocation: Councillor Ross Houston, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes & Regeneration, clarified that the decision was about allocating CIL funds, not the planning application itself.
• Infrastructure Improvements: The plan aims to fund infrastructure improvements in the Edgware Town Centre growth area.

Despite concerns about consultation, the Cabinet approved the plan, emphasizing that the planning committee would consider all planning concerns.

Other Matters

• Primary Care Access: The Cabinet considered the Overview and Scrutiny Committee's report on primary care access, agreeing to proposed responses to improve access, including better communication and digital inclusion initiatives.
• Financial Outturn: The Cabinet noted the financial outturn, current use of reserves, expenditure against capital budgets, and approved changes to the 2025/26 capital programme.
• Barnet Homes Management Agreement: The Cabinet approved proposed changes to the management agreement with Barnet Homes, provisional fees for 2025/26, and delegated authority to finalise the agreement.
• Waste Strategy: The Cabinet approved the North London Waste Authority's Joint Waste Strategy, focusing on waste reduction, reuse, and recycling.
• Whitings Road and Moxon Street Development Sites: The Cabinet approved the full business case for the Whitings Road and Moxon Street development sites, appointing Bugler Developments Limited as the delivery partner.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a summary of upcoming meetings and their main topics:

• Licensing and General Purposes Committee on Tuesday 01 July 2025 - Meeting Link
• Local Pension Board on Wednesday 02 July 2025 - Meeting Link