The Barnet Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss several key reports and plans, including the Safer Communities Partnership Board Annual Report, the Youth Justice Plan, and the council's financial forecast. The committee made recommendations on hate crime prevention, budget scrutiny, and collaboration between police and parking enforcement. They also reviewed task and finish group updates and the cabinet forward plan, identifying areas for future scrutiny.

Safer Communities Partnership Board (SCPB) Annual Report 2024-25

The committee reviewed the Safer Communities Partnership Board Annual Report 2024-25, which details the work of the SCPB in addressing community safety issues.

• CCTV: The council's investment in upgrading CCTV infrastructure was highlighted, with the new cameras allowing for proactive and reactive community safety work.
• Proactive Partnership: The collaborative approach fostered by the Clear Hold Build initiative has widened and deepened, reflected in operations across the borough.
• Public Space Protection Order (PSPO): A refreshed communications campaign was launched to raise awareness of the Barnet PSPO[^1] and its consequences. [^1]: A Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) is a tool used by local authorities in England and Wales to address specific nuisances or problems in a defined public area that negatively affect the community's quality of life.
• Family Services: Noted developments and positive impacts relating to detached youth work, the Barnet Victim Care Hub, and restorative justice approaches.
• Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls: Noted improved communications and partnership initiatives, including the 'Hear My Voice' campaign with Middlesex University[^2]. [^2]: Middlesex University is a public university in Hendon, north-west London.
• Hate Crime and Community Cohesion: Discussed challenges to local cohesion and a new communications campaign focused on positive, inclusive messages.

Councillor Peter Zinkin, Leader of the Conservative Group, expressed concern that Priority 5 of the report, relating to hate crime, did not reflect the borough's current challenges with Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. He suggested that the section should be rewritten.

Councillor Sara Conway, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Community Cohesion and Ending Violence Against Women & Girls, acknowledged the feedback and agreed to compile additional information in one place for the committee.

The committee made the following recommendations:

• To bring back an appendix to the September meeting with a more detailed collaborative report that looks and pulls everything together.
• That the partnership could review priority five for next year.
• That the police and parking enforcement have a meeting to discuss aggressive parking.

Councillor Kath McGuirk raised concerns about antisocial behaviour and aggressive parking in town centres, particularly in North Finchley.

Youth Justice Plan Annual Report 2024-25

The committee reviewed the Youth Justice Plan Annual Report 2024-25, which outlines the strategic priorities and partnership approach for preventing youth offending.

• The report highlighted the collaborative work being done, and the innovative work that is recognised.
• The residential camp is incredibly well regarded and that the borough also now does the engaged program for the tri borough.
• Barnet has strong performance in reducing the use of custody and reoffending rates.
• The council has aligned the child first principles with the work in children's social care.
• The services that young people can access within the youth justice partnership include mental health services, education advice, and substance misuse services.

Councillor Nagus Narenthira asked how young people on the Youth Justice Board are being supported. It was explained that they are provided with induction and mentorship to ensure they know their responsibilities and can provide feedback.

Councillor Paul Lemon asked about the priorities for 2025-27, particularly regarding mental health services and working with Barnet, Enfield, and Haringey. It was clarified that this is linked to the health trust that the borough sits in.

Councillor Zinkin raised concerns about mitigating the risk of vulnerable young people being radicalised. It was explained that this is addressed through prevent work, social media awareness, and education in schools.

The committee made the following recommendations:

• That an all counsellor briefing on community safety prevention be circulated.

Chief Finance Officer Report - 2025/26 Q1 Financial Forecast and 2025/26 Budget Management

The committee reviewed the Chief Finance Officer Report, which provided a summary of the council's revenue and capital outturn for the financial year 2025/26.

• The report highlighted an overspend of £5.098m, despite hard work being done.
• The usual suspects, like temporary accommodation costs going up.
• The adult social care element is a £641 care overspend, mainly related to some disputed income with the ICB.
• The government has prioritised town centres this summer.

Councillor Alex Prager asked about the volatility of locally generated income. It was explained that while council tax collection rates are stable, there is volatility around parking income and other fees and charges.

Councillor Lemon asked about the variance in temporary accommodation costs and adult social care. It was explained that temporary accommodation costs are driven by external factors, while the adult social care variance is related to disputed income with the ICB and GLL income.

Councillor Zinkin raised concerns about the contingency budget being almost fully allocated. It was clarified that the allocated amount includes earmarked funds and a buffer for the forecast overspend.

The committee made the following recommendations:

• That a paper on trend data on forecasting methodology and how we do it be produced.
• That the Constitutional Working Group look at the format of budget stroke financial scrutiny as part of their work.

Task and Finish Group Updates

The committee received an update on the current work on task and finish groups.

• The groups on food security and allotments are coming to a conclusion.
• New groups on fostering and fast food shops are due to begin.

Cabinet Forward Plan

The committee reviewed the Cabinet Forward Plan and identified several items for potential pre-decision scrutiny, including:

• Placemaking framework adoption
• Middlesex University leases approval
• Capita contract review

The committee agreed to liaise with officers to determine whether these items would require full scrutiny or could be addressed through briefings.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee reviewed the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme and noted that the library strategy would be considered in November.