Barnet Council met to discuss a range of issues including highways licensing fees, the capital strategy for 2024-2025, and the work programme for the Overview and Scrutiny committee. The council voted to increase a range of highways licensing fees, to note the updated capital strategy, and to note the Overview and Scrutiny annual report and work programme.

Highways Licence Fee Changes

The council considered a report on proposed changes to highways licensing fees. The report recommended that the council increase fees for skip, scaffold, and hoarding licences.

Councillors argued that increasing these fees was necessary to ensure that developers were contributing their fair share to the cost of maintaining the highway. They argued that the proposed increase in fees would bring the fees in Barnet closer to those charged by neighbouring boroughs, and that the current fees did not reflect the cost of processing the licences. The representative of the Federation of Master Builders, who had sent in a statement ahead of the meeting, argued that the council should not make it harder for businesses to operate in the borough and should be supporting businesses, especially given that they pay the council thousands of pounds a year. They also expressed concern that an increase in licence fees would be passed on to customers.

The council voted to increase the fees as set out in the report: Council Report - Change Highways Licence Fees.

Barnet's Capital Strategy

The council noted the updated capital strategy for 2024-2025, as required by the Local Government Act 2003.¹ The updated strategy included a number of changes to the capital programme, including a £10 million increase in the budget for the redevelopment of Brent Cross Shopping Centre.²

The council also noted the Annual Report of GARMS (General Fund Asset Review and Management Strategy) 2023-2024.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The council received the Annual Report 2023-24 and Work Programme 2024-25 from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee plays a vital role in holding the council's administration to account and ensuring that its decisions are made in the best interests of our residents.

Councillor X, speaking at the meeting

The committee is responsible for scrutinizing the council's decisions and policies, as well as for making recommendations to the council on a range of issues.

The council noted the report and the work programme.

Contract Procedure Rules

The council voted to update its contract procedure rules.

These changes ensure clarity and consistency and incorporate best practice

Extract from Constitution Review - Contract Procedure Rules

The updated rules included provisions for the procurement of goods and services electronically, and for the use of framework agreements.

Members' Allowances Scheme

The council voted to approve a new Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2024-2025.

The scheme sets out how much councillors will be paid in allowances for the financial year 2024-2025. It includes the basic allowance, which all councillors are entitled to, as well as special responsibility allowances (SRAs), which are paid to councillors who have additional responsibilities, such as chairing a committee. The scheme was developed by the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) in their report: Remuneration of Councillors in London.

Deputation

The council received a deputation from Ark Franklin academy about plans to install a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) on their site. Neighbours of the school are objecting to the plans over concerns about noise and light pollution.