The Cabinet of Barnet Council met on Monday 15 June 2026 to discuss a range of important issues, including the Barnet Homes Annual Delivery Plan for 2026-27 and the Sustainable Design and Development Guidance Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). Discussions were held on financial forecasts, housing development, and environmental considerations for the borough.

Barnet Homes Annual Delivery Plan 2026-27

Barnet Homes, the council's Arm's Length Management Organisation, presented its Annual Delivery Plan for 2026-27. The plan outlines the outcomes and targets for the first year of a new ten-year management agreement. The report highlighted Barnet Homes' strong performance in 2025/26, particularly in delivering affordable housing, with 80 street properties purchased and a further 70 from the Cheyne portfolio. The council also received a 'C1' grading from the Regulator of Social Housing, the highest possible result, recognising its commitment to tenant fairness and safety.

Key performance indicators for 2026/27 include targets for the number of homes purchased for affordable housing, the number of care leavers housed, and the percentage of repairs completed on time. The plan also addresses the ongoing challenges of homelessness, with a projected increase in temporary accommodation placements due to high demand and a shortage of affordable housing. Mitigation activities and prevention initiatives are being continued, including the Temporary Accommodation Reduction Plan.

Cabinet noted and approved the Barnet Homes 2026/27 Delivery Plan. Cabinet delegated authority to the Executive Director of Growth and other officers, in line with the Scheme of Financial Delegation, to approve change control notices. These notices must be within budget limits, not amount to a key decision, and align with the plan's objectives. Authority was also delegated to make minor amendments to the delivery plan.

Sustainable Design and Development Guidance Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

The Cabinet considered the draft Sustainable Design and Development Guidance SPD, which aims to provide detailed guidance for development standards, supporting the policies in Barnet's adopted Local Plan (2025). The SPD consolidates previous guidance documents and aligns with current national and London Plan policies, focusing on promoting distinctive, high-quality, sustainable development.

Following a six-week public consultation, amendments were made to the SPD based on feedback received. Key areas addressed include:

• Clarity on language: Ensuring consistent use of terms like 'must', 'should', and 'encouraged' to reflect guidance rather than prescriptive policy.
• Design processes: Clarifying the application of design stages for different scales of development and acknowledging the role of community engagement.
• Heritage assets: Strengthening references to heritage considerations, including listed buildings and conservation areas, and ensuring new development responds positively to local character.
• Environmental factors: Enhancing guidance on air quality, noise, and overheating, with a focus on mitigation measures and alignment with national standards.
• Amenity standards: Refining guidance on privacy and overlooking distances, with a minimum separation of 18 metres between facing habitable room windows and 9 metres to neighbouring outdoor amenity space, while allowing for flexibility in dense urban contexts.
• Shopfronts and advertisements: Providing clearer guidance on digital advertisements, heritage impacts, and ensuring active frontages.
• Materials: Encouraging the use of high-quality, durable, and sustainable materials that complement the local context.
• Trees and landscaping: Emphasising the retention of existing trees and the provision of replacement planting.
• SuDS and flood risk: Reinforcing the importance of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and Flood Risk Assessments.
• Public space: Highlighting the need for safe, social, and inclusive public spaces that support community activities and active travel.

Cabinet resolved to review the representations received and endorse the proposed responses. Cabinet adopted the SDDG SPD and authorised officers to prepare an adoption statement. Authority was delegated to the Executive Director of Growth, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, to make any necessary factual or minor editing changes prior to publication. Cabinet also agreed to a change to the date in section 3.1 of the document.

Financial Outturn and Budget Management

The Cabinet received the Chief Finance Officer's report on the financial outturn for 2025/26 and the 2026/27 Capital Programme and Budget Management. The council reported an underspend of £9.775 million for 2025/26, attributed to favourable movements across services and unallocated contingency budget. However, structural pressures in social care, temporary accommodation, and capital financing remain significant.

The capital programme expenditure for 2025/26 was £264.1 million, £47.1 million below budget, primarily due to slippage in expenditure. The report detailed updates on ring-fenced accounts, debt positions, and treasury management. Cabinet approved virements and write-offs for Council Tax, Business Rates, and other debts, and noted the capital programme updates.

Other Key Decisions

• New Administration Priorities: Cabinet noted the proposed approach to formulating council priorities for 2026-2030, aiming for financial sustainability by March 2029, and agreed to delegate authority to the Chief Executive for developing priorities and objectives for the Corporate Plan, including public consultation.
• Barnet Youth Strategy: Cabinet approved the draft Barnet Youth Strategy (2026–2036) for formal consultation and agreed its implementation following consideration of consultation feedback and incorporation of any amendments made under delegated authority.
• Underhill South CPZ: Cabinet noted the deputation response and requested further analysis of consultation comments for the experimental controlled parking zone, engaging with ward members and the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change to determine future options.
• Dollis Valley Phases 4 & 5: Cabinet noted the referral from Full Council on a deputation and approved the prepared response. It also approved the Full Business Case for Phases 4 & 5 of Dollis Valley and the acquisition of 187 social rent homes and 21 key worker living rent homes from Vistry.
• Annual Landlord Services Complaints Performance: Cabinet noted the report and approved the submission of the performance report and self-assessment to the Housing Ombudsman.
• Council Housing Performance: Cabinet noted the contents of the Q4 2025/26 report.
• The Barnet Group Business Plan: Cabinet approved The Barnet Group's 5-year business plan.
• Brent Cross Update: Cabinet noted the report's contents and ongoing work, reconfirmed support for a data centre at Brent Cross Town, and delegated authority to finalise heads of terms for a new co-living building.
• Finchley Leisure Centre: Cabinet approved the Revised Outline Business Case and the issue of the FBC Notice to Regal GNLP Limited (trading as Arada).
• Pan London Sexual Health and Contraceptive e Service Contract: Cabinet noted the Lead Authority's intention to extend the contract by 12 months and approved Barnet's continued participation in the collaborative commissioning arrangements.
• Oakleigh Depot Works: Cabinet agreed the recommendation contained in the exempt appendix.
• Cabinet Forward Plan: Cabinet noted the Forward Plan – Key Decision Schedule.

The meeting concluded with Cabinet noting the Cabinet Forward Plan and addressing urgent business. Press and public were excluded for discussions on exempt items.