Subscribe to updates
You'll receive weekly summaries about Barnet Council every week.
If you have any requests or comments please let us know at community@opencouncil.network. We can also provide custom updates on particular topics across councils.
Prefer no ads? Become a Supporter for £3.50/month
Cabinet - Monday 18th November, 2024 7.00 pm
November 18, 2024 Cabinet View on council websiteSummary
Open Council Network is an independent organisation. We report on Barnet and are not the council. About us
The Barnet Council Cabinet met on Monday 18 November 2024 to discuss a range of significant issues, including the council's financial forecast, the future of parking machines, and the regeneration of Grahame Park North East. Key decisions made included the approval of a new Council Tax Support scheme, the decommissioning of pay and display parking machines, and the selection of a development partner for the Grahame Park North East regeneration project.
Financial Situation and Medium Term Financial Strategy
The Cabinet received a stark update on the council's financial position, with a projected revenue overspend of £25.5 million for the 2024/25 financial year. This situation has necessitated a review of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2025-2030. Three scenarios were presented, with the base case (Scenario B) indicating a budget gap of £28 million for 2025/26, requiring significant savings and income generation proposals to be brought forward for consideration in December. The council's reserves have been depleted, and the report highlighted the ongoing pressures from increased demand and costs in areas such as temporary accommodation and adult social care.
Despite these challenges, the Cabinet approved changes to the capital programme, including additions totalling £11.6 million for the Grahame Park North East project, funded by additional grant and borrowing. They also approved an agency agreement with Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) to achieve savings in leisure services.
Parking and Service Delivery
A decision was made to decommission the remaining 59 pay and display parking machines across the borough. This move is driven by low usage compared to alternative payment methods like PaybyPhone and PayPoint, and the significant future capital investment required for their replacement. The council will promote alternative payment methods, including cash payments at PayPoint outlets. Paid parking vouchers will also be withdrawn due to low demand.
Grahame Park North East Regeneration
The Cabinet approved the appointment of Lovell Partnerships Limited as the preferred development partner for the Grahame Park North East regeneration scheme, with Countryside Properties (UK) as the reserved partner. A Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) will be incorporated for the joint venture. The updated Outline Business Case was approved, and the joint venture will be authorised to submit a hybrid planning application for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the project. A payment of £500,000 from the capital budget will be made for improvements to Heybourne Park.
Other Key Decisions
- Local Implementation Plan (LIP): Cabinet approved the prioritised schemes for the LIP 3-Year Delivery Plan (2025-28), which details highway and transport improvements funded by Transport for London (TfL). This includes proposals for safer streets, cycle training, and bus priority measures.
- Childcare Sufficiency Assessment: The Cabinet noted the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment and agreed on a plan to support the continued sufficiency of childcare provision in Barnet, particularly in light of the expansion of free early years entitlements.
- Our Plan for Barnet: The Cabinet noted the Q2 2024-25 update on the Delivery and Outcomes Framework, which showed mixed performance against targets, with some areas improving and others worsening.
- Council Tax Support Scheme: The Cabinet approved a proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2025/26 and agreed to a public consultation on the changes. The proposed scheme aims to balance savings with minimising adverse impacts on vulnerable groups.
- Short Breaks Funding: The Cabinet approved the recommendation to cease the provision of funded hours with approved providers for the Short Breaks scheme from April 2025, moving to a single pre-paid card method for all eligible families. Further analysis will be undertaken regarding the financial offer.
- Enforcement and Prosecutions Policy: Amendments were agreed to Appendix J of the policy concerning the issuing of Civil Penalty Notices for housing offences to ensure legal compliance with upper tribunal rulings.
- Open Door Homes Acquisitions: Several decisions were made regarding the Open Door Homes acquisition programme, including agreeing to resume the existing loan facility, approving the transfer of capital receipts as grant funding, agreeing to lend £3 million to ODH, and authorising further interim lending within financial envelopes.
- Cabinet Forward Plan: The Cabinet noted the forward plan, which outlines future key decisions.
The meeting also included discussions on the review of Capita contracts, with decisions made to extend contracts for IT and Customer Services, and for Revenues and Benefits, subject to improved collection rates. The return of the Barnet-based customer service team to the council was also noted.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
-
Business Planning and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025-2030
For Determination...to revise the Business Planning and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025-2030, taking into account growing demand, non-delivery of savings, and a significant overspend, and to delegate authority to the Interim Executive Director of Resources to amend the MTFS in line with the 2025/26 Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement.
-
Review of Capita Contracts
For Determination...to determine the future delivery model for Customer Service Group (CSG) services – specifically IT, Customer Services, and Revenues & Benefits – currently outsourced to Capita, considering options for insourcing, hybrid models, or re-procurement, with the aim of maintaining value for money and minimizing service disruption when the contracts end in March 2026.
-
Decommission Pay and Display Machines
For Determination...to decommission the remaining 59 parking pay and display machines throughout the borough and withdraw paid parking vouchers from sale, while promoting alternative payment methods, including cash options.
-
Short Break Payments
For Determination...to cease the provision of funded hours with approved providers for the Short Breaks scheme from 1st April 2025, moving to a single payment method of pre-paid cards for all eligible families.
-
Local Implementation Plan- 3 Year Plan
For Determination...to approve the Local Implementation Plan- 3 Year Plan (2025-28), encompassing the Safer Corridors and Neighbourhoods Programme, Bus Priority Programme, Safer Cycle Network Development Programme, Safer Streets Programme, and Cycle Parking Programme, aimed at improving road safety, promoting sustainable transport, and enhancing accessibility across Barnet.
-
Chief Finance Officer Report - 2024/25 Quarter 2 Financial Forecast and 2024/25 Budget Management
For Determination... to approve changes to the existing Capital Programme, including additions, deletions, slippage, and accelerated spending, as well as virements as detailed in the Chief Finance Officer's report on the 2024/25 Quarter 2 Financial Forecast and 2024/25 Budget Management.
-
Primary Care (GP) Access Task and Finish Group Report - Referral from the Adults and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee
For Determination...to note the Primary Care (GP) Access Task and Finish Group report and its recommendations, and to request officers to prepare a report on the recommendations with full legal, financial, and other comments for consideration at a future meeting, with a response to the recommendations to be provided at that future meeting.
-
Council Tax Support Scheme 2025/26
For Determination...to approve the proposed Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025/26, including a public consultation on the proposed scheme and noting the options set out in the CTS Modelling and Analysis Report.
-
Enforcement and Prosecutions Policy - Banning Order Policy
For Determination...to ensure legal compliance regarding upper tribunal cases, the Cabinet updated Appendix J, section 8 of the London Borough of Barnet Enforcement and Prosecution Policy concerning the issuing of Civil Penalty Notices, specifically incorporating a separate financial penalty starting point for each offence under the Housing Act 2004 and allowing for future amendments via Delegated Powers Report.
-
Our Plan for Barnet - Delivery and Outcomes Framework, Q2 2024-25
For Determination...the Cabinet of Barnet noted the contents of the Our Plan for Barnet – Delivery and Outcomes Framework, Quarter 2 (Q2) 2024-25 report, providing an update on the progress of key activities and performance indicators.
Attendees
Topics
Meeting Documents
Reports Pack
Additional Documents