The Cabinet of Barnet Council met on Tuesday 9 December 2025 to discuss a range of important issues, including the significant investment in the borough's roads and pavements, the acquisition of new affordable homes, and the council's financial strategy. Key decisions made included the approval of the £15.52 million programme for improving Barnet's roads and pavements for 2026-27, the acquisition of 38 affordable homes at the Donoghue Business Park site, and the agreement to consult on council tax increases to support social care.

Improving Barnet Roads and Pavements Programme 2026-27

Cabinet approved a capital expenditure of £15.52 million for the 2026-27 Improving Barnet's Roads and Pavements Programme. This funding, part of a larger £97 million investment, will be used for carriageway and footway resurfacing and patching, drainage maintenance, structures, and other highway assets. Councillor Alan Schneiderman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, highlighted that this investment is crucial for planned maintenance, which is more cost-effective than reactive repairs. The programme also supports active travel by ensuring well-maintained footways and safe carriageways for cyclists. Ward councillors were consulted on proposed schemes, and a members' hub provides weekly updates on progress. The council also received confirmation of £2.467 million in highways funding from the Department for Transport for 2026-27, with further funding extending to 2030.

Acquisition of 38 Homes from Chase Homes

The Cabinet approved the acquisition of 38 affordable homes at the Donoghue Business Park site in Cricklewood from Chase New Homes. These homes will be funded through Right to Buy receipts and the Housing Revenue Account. Councillor Ross Houston, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, stated that this acquisition aligns with the Temporary Accommodation Reduction Plan by increasing the supply of affordable housing and will help alleviate pressure on the council's temporary accommodation budget. The homes will comprise a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom properties, with 10 of the three-bedroom homes being wheelchair accessible. The acquisition is subject to satisfactory financial and legal due diligence.

Business Planning 2026-2031 (Medium Term Financial Strategy) and 2025/26 Budget Management

Councillor Simon Radford, Cabinet Member for Financial Sustainability, presented the council's refreshed Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2026-2031 and the 2025/26 budget management. The strategy highlights significant financial pressures due to increasing demand for services like social care and temporary accommodation, coupled with rising inflation and interest rates. Cabinet noted that support from central government is likely to be required to set a balanced budget for 2026/27, as a substantial budget gap remains. The council agreed to consult on using its flexibility to raise General Council Tax by 2.98% and apply a 2.00% Social Care Precept in 2026/27. The budget consultation will launch in the week beginning 15 December 2025.

Contract Compliance with Lee Fire and Security Ltd

Cabinet approved an increase in the contract value for Lee Fire & Security Ltd to a total of £2,000,000. This increase is necessary for the delivery of fire safety inspections, remediation works to fire safety systems, reactive callouts, and project works. Cabinet also ratified payments totalling £771,966 that had exceeded the existing agreement value. Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of the Council, explained that this retrospective approval is required to ensure compliance with procurement rules, as additional critical fire safety works were identified and undertaken by the local firm.

Our Plan for Barnet - Delivery and Outcomes Framework, Quarter 2 (Q2) 2025-26

Cabinet noted the contents of the Our Plan for Barnet – Delivery and Outcomes Framework, Quarter 2 (Q2) 2025-26 report. This report provides an update on the progress made against the council's priorities and outcome measures. The framework shows that out of 76 indicators with a baseline, 36 improved, 17 remained the same, and 23 worsened in Q2. Benchmarking data indicates that Barnet is performing well compared to other London Boroughs and nationally, with 26 out of 30 benchmarked indicators performing better than or in line with peers.

Update on Corporate Parenting

Cabinet noted the report on Corporate Parenting and agreed to receive regular update reports on this matter. A key decision was to ask officers to write to the Department for Education (DfE) to share Barnet's recommendations as an example of good practice and a potential national benchmark for supporting care-experienced young people aged 18 and over. The report also highlighted the importance of referring progress and challenges for services to children in care and care-experienced young adults to the Council for noting.