The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Barnet Council met on Thursday 16 July 2026 to discuss a range of important issues, including the Hendon Parklet Petition, the Council's Delivery and Outcomes Framework, and the Safer Communities Partnership Board Annual Report. The committee also reviewed the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for the upcoming year and received updates from various partner organisations.

Key decisions made during the meeting included the agreement to request a report to Cabinet regarding the Hendon Parklet Petition, the noting of the Council's Delivery and Outcomes Framework Annual Report, and the agreement to present the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report to full Council. The committee also received updates from the London Fire Brigade, the Police, the Integrated Care Board, Public Health, and Family Services, covering a wide array of topics from crime prevention and community safety to health and youth justice. The committee also reviewed the Cabinet Forward Plan for 2026-27, identifying items for pre-decision scrutiny.

Hendon Parklet Petition to be Reported to Cabinet

A petition signed by 522 Barnet residents expressing concerns about the parklet on Brent Street, Hendon, was presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Councillor Alex Prager, who presented the petition, highlighted that over 88% of signatories were Hendon ward residents living within a mile of the location. He argued that there was a significant increase in demand for parking bays in the area, exacerbated by the recent installation of electric vehicle charging bays and Tesco's use of bays for loading. The committee agreed to instruct an officer to prepare a report for the Cabinet meeting in September, recommending consideration of the parklet's removal.

Council Performance and Outcomes Reviewed

The committee received the End of Year (EOY) 2025-26 report on the Delivery and Outcomes Framework for Our Plan for Barnet. Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of the Council, highlighted the success of the benefits calculator app, which had brought over £19 million into Barnet, and praised the work of family services. While the report indicated that 79 out of 87 indicators showed improvement or remained the same compared to the baseline, six indicators had worsened, particularly in the area of reducing poverty. The committee engaged in detailed questioning regarding the methodology for measuring smoking cessation, the definition of a leisure centre visit, and the source of data for adult activity levels. Concerns were also raised about the lack of a specific measure for affordable homes granted planning permission, with officers confirming that this data had only recently started being measured internally due to past unreliability. The council's council tax recovery rate was noted as being lower than the London and national averages, with a new contract aiming to improve this. The committee also discussed the significant shortfall in EV charging installation targets, attributed partly to planning considerations and the administration of Trojan, the company responsible for street installations.

Safer Communities Partnership Board Annual Report Highlights Concerns and Actions

The Safer Communities Partnership Board (SCPB) Annual Report for 2025-26 detailed significant work undertaken across several priority areas. Councillor Sara Conway, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, highlighted the challenging year for the borough due to global events impacting community cohesion, and paid tribute to the work of various teams, including the police and fire service.

A public question from Ben Samuel raised concerns about the policing of an event in Edgwarebury and the council's response to potential offences under UK and international law. Acting Chief Inspector Tom Hinson confirmed that 14 arrests were made during the event and encouraged victims to report directly to the police. Councillor Conway stated that the council had no power to stop the event itself, but that the police assess risks and are responsible for policing operations.

The SCPB report detailed efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour through community safety hubs and ward walks, with 77 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued for greenspace offences. The 'Clear, Hold, Build' initiative on the Grahame Park Estate was highlighted as a successful multi-agency approach to tackling serious organised crime, resulting in significant reductions in crime and ASB. CCTV data showed a 70% proactive incident capture rate, with the busiest times between 8 pm and 10 pm.

Concerns were raised about the increase in rape offences, with police attributing this to increased reporting and confidence in their services, noting Barnet's high performing serious sexual offences unit. The committee also discussed the use of live facial recognition technology, with deployments having occurred in Finchley and Burnt Oak.

The report also detailed work on domestic abuse and VAWG, including the establishment of the Barnet Domestic Abuse Support Hub (BDASH) and a new strategy co-produced with survivors. The Youth Justice Service reported strong performance, with a continued reduction in first-time entrants and reoffending rates, and a 0% custody rate. However, challenges remain regarding the increasing complexity of need within the cohort. The Serious Violence Duty update showed a slight reduction in serious youth violence incidents, but highlighted the vulnerability of the affected cohort, with over half being looked after children.

The report also touched upon the Prevent strategy, noting an increase in enquiries and a strong partnership response to hate crime, particularly antisemitic incidents. The council received £500,000 over two years from the government to support its work on community cohesion and tackling antisemitism.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme and Cabinet Forward Plan Agreed

The committee reviewed and agreed the proposed Overview and Scrutiny Work Programmes for 2026-27, which included suggestions from councillors, officers, the public, and community groups. The work programme aims to be informed by resident concerns and to add value to the council's corporate objectives. The committee also noted the Cabinet Forward Plan for 2026-27, acknowledging that it would become more detailed as meetings progressed. The committee agreed to consider the Daws Lane and Mill Hill Library options appraisal at its September meeting before it goes to Cabinet.

Task and Finish Group Updates

Updates were provided on the progress of Task and Finish Groups, with all groups from 2024-25 having concluded their investigations and presented recommendations to Cabinet. There were no active reviews at the time of the meeting, but a couple of new Task and Finish Groups were proposed for the upcoming year.

Partner Updates

Updates were received from partner organisations, including the London Fire Brigade, who highlighted an 11.5% rise in road traffic collisions and a 10.4% increase in accidental dwelling fires in Barnet. They also noted a 23.2% rise in carbon monoxide incidents. The Brigade is working to target vulnerable populations, including the Jewish community, through school programmes and discreet presence.

The police reported a 10% decrease in burglary and a decrease in vehicle crime, but noted a rise in hate crime, particularly antisemitic incidents. A new community protection team has been launched to provide security to at-risk communities. The police also confirmed that facial recognition technology had been deployed in Finchley and Burnt Oak.

The Integrated Care Board (ICB) assured the committee that safeguarding responsibilities were being discharged effectively, despite organisational changes. A multi-agency thematic audit highlighted a cohort of young people involved in the youth justice system with extremely high levels of vulnerability, including trauma, exploitation, and unmet mental health needs.

Public Health provided an update on the Combating Drugs Partnership, noting an increase in drug-related deaths in London and Barnet. Work is underway to address synthetic opioid risks and rising ketamine use, particularly among young people.

Family Services presented updates on the Youth Justice Service, highlighting strong performance in reducing reoffending and a 0% custody rate. However, challenges remain regarding the increasing complexity of need within the cohort. The Serious Violence Duty update showed a slight reduction in serious youth violence incidents, but noted the vulnerability of the affected cohort.

The meeting concluded with the noting of the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2025-26, which will be presented to full Council.