The Cabinet meeting on Monday 15 June 2026 discussed a wide range of issues, including the council's financial outturn for the previous year, the Barnet Homes delivery plan, and the adoption of new guidance on sustainable design and development. Key decisions included approving the Barnet Homes 2026-27 Delivery Plan and delegating authority for change control notices, adopting the Sustainable Design and Development Guidance SPD, and noting the final outturn for 2025-26 against the revenue budget.

Barnet Homes Delivery Plan Approved

The Cabinet approved the Barnet Homes 2026-27 Delivery Plan, which outlines the outcomes and targets for the first year of a new ten-year management agreement. This plan reflects Barnet Homes' commitment to improving services, with challenging new targets set for repairs, tenant satisfaction, and the delivery of affordable housing. The plan also addresses a different approach to domestic abuse reporting, aiming to encourage more open reporting. Cabinet delegated authority to officers to approve change control notices within budget limits, provided they do not constitute key decisions and align with the plan's objectives.

Sustainable Design and Development Guidance Adopted

A new Sustainable Design and Development Guidance Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was adopted by the Cabinet. This SPD consolidates existing guidance and provides detailed advice on achieving high-quality, sustainable development in Barnet, aligning with national and local planning policies. It covers areas such as design principles, energy efficiency, biodiversity, flood risk, and accessibility, aiming to create well-designed, resilient, and healthy places for residents. The document also addresses specific guidance for residential conversions, HMOs, extensions, shopfronts, and advertisements.

Financial Outturn and Capital Programme Updates

The Chief Finance Officer's report detailed the council's financial outturn for 2025-26, revealing an underspend of £9.775 million. This improved position was attributed to favourable movements across several services and unallocated contingency funds. The report also provided an update on the 2026-27 capital programme, which saw an underspend of £47.1 million primarily due to the timing and reprofiling of expenditure into future years. Cabinet approved the delegation of authority to the Chief Finance Officer to allocate pay and non-pay inflation contingency budgets for 2026-27, and approved virements for extended producer responsibility grants and changes to the capital programme.

Parking Charges in Mays Lane to be Reviewed

A petition regarding parking charges in Mays Lane was discussed, with concerns raised about the impact on local businesses and residents. Councillor Alan Schneiderman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, acknowledged the concerns and agreed to ask officers to investigate the practicalities of aligning the CPZ charging hours with those of the surrounding Chipping Barnet CPZ. A response is expected within 20 days.

Poverty Reduction and Adult Social Care Performance Noted

The Cabinet received updates on the council's performance in reducing poverty, with six out of eight indicators worsening. Discussions focused on tackling the underlying drivers of poverty, including low pay, housing affordability, and financial insecurity. The Cabinet also reviewed the performance of adult social care services, noting a worsening measure for social care-related quality of life, which now sits below both London and England medians. Further investigation into the drivers of this dissatisfaction is planned.

Affordable Housing Delivery and Homelessness Efforts Highlighted

The report on 'Our Plan for Barnet' highlighted the delivery of hundreds of new homes, including affordable housing, and acknowledged the ongoing challenge of 1,744 families remaining in temporary accommodation. The Cabinet accepted that house building alone is not solving the housing crisis and that local policy needs to explore alternatives such as bringing empty homes back into use. Discussions also touched upon the Renters' Rights Act and its potential impact on the private rented sector.

Community Engagement and Participation

Concerns were raised regarding the effectiveness of the council's current engagement model, particularly in relation to the low number of respondents to the sustainable design and development guidance consultation. The Cabinet acknowledged the importance of embedding lived experience in decision-making, especially for disabled residents and public safety, and the need to go beyond minimum legal standards.

Barnet Homes Annual Delivery Plan Approved

The Cabinet approved the Barnet Homes Delivery Plan for 2026-27, which sets out ambitious targets for repairs, tenant satisfaction, and the delivery of new affordable homes. The plan reflects Barnet Homes' commitment to continuous improvement and its strong performance in managing the council's housing stock. Cabinet also delegated authority to officers to approve change control notices within budget limits.

Other Matters

The Cabinet also noted the Cabinet Forward Plan and extended congratulations to Dean Cohen on his MBE. The meeting concluded with the noting of the final outturn for 2025-26 against the revenue budget, current use of reserves and EFS, expenditure against the capital budget, and information on service loans and investments.