The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Barnet Council met on Wednesday 21 January 2026 to discuss a range of important issues, including the significant increase in empty homes across the borough and the council's approach to managing its estates and supporting the voluntary and community sector. The committee also reviewed updates on various task and finish groups, the cabinet forward plan, and the committee's work programme.

Estates and the Voluntary and Community Sector

The committee received an update on how the council's Estates team and Community Participation team work with the voluntary and community sector (VCS). Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Strategic Partnerships, Economy, and Effective Council, explained that the council's approach to leasing community assets is structured around a formal landlord-tenant relationship, underpinned by governance and compliance processes. Leases are managed by qualified Chartered Surveyors, ensuring compliance with council policies and statutory obligations.

A new approach to community assets was approved by Cabinet in December 2024, replacing the previous Community Benefit Assessment Tool (CBAT) with a new Community Asset Matrix and a Community Asset Panel. This panel, comprising officers and elected members, assesses lease renewals using newly agreed evaluation criteria and a matrix that applies monetary values to social outcomes. This aims to increase transparency and fairness in how resources are allocated to the community sector. The new approach also introduces a service charge for new leases to help maintain community assets.

Councillor Peter Zinkin, Leader of the Conservative Group, raised concerns about transparency, particularly regarding the reporting of decisions made by the Community Asset Panel and the lack of clarity on how lease decisions are reported, especially for unsuccessful applicants. He also questioned the monitoring arrangements for VCS groups to ensure they are delivering on their agreed social value commitments.

In response, Councillor Zahra Beg, The Mayor of Barnet, assured members that efforts were being made to improve the publication of decisions, including those where applicants were not successful. Marta, from the Community Participation team, confirmed that groups are provided with one-to-one support and that the matrix has been simplified based on feedback. An annual review of VCS group performance on social value was proposed to ensure delivery.

Empty Homes in Barnet

The committee discussed the significant rise in empty homes in Barnet, with a 57% increase in long-term empty properties over the past year. Councillor Ross Houston, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, presented the report, highlighting that Barnet had 7,685 vacant dwellings as of September 2025, with 3,278 of these being long-term empty properties, representing over 2% of the borough's housing stock. He noted that this was a waste of resources in a borough with housing challenges.

The report detailed various reasons for the increase, including regeneration activity, new build developments remaining unoccupied, and a higher incidence of rental properties. The council's current approach includes investigating empty properties where the council has a connection, promoting empty property grants, and exploring Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs). Planning enforcement also plays a role, with powers under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act to address properties detrimental to local amenity.

Councillor Zinkin questioned the capitalisation of a capital budget to fund an additional Housing Enforcement Officer, finding the financial mechanism unclear. He also raised concerns about the wording of recommendations, particularly welcoming the reduction in second homes when the overall number of empty homes had increased significantly. Councillor Houston acknowledged the need for clarity and agreed to reword the recommendation to note rather than welcome the reduction in second homes.

Several recommendations were made, including noting the increase in empty homes, noting the impact of the second homes premium, and considering further work to bring empty homes back into use, subject to resource availability. It was also noted that the existing empty property capital budget would be capitalised to fund an additional Housing Enforcement Officer. The committee recommended that Cabinet identify resources for more direct action by the Planning Enforcement Team and that the Lead Member for Housing and Regeneration write to the Minister of State for Housing to request reinstatement of funding for surveying empty properties and for grant funding incentives.

Two additional recommendations were proposed: that officers undertake further analysis to identify opportunities to bring empty properties into use, focusing on those that could meet the highest areas of need, including temporary accommodation and homelessness avoidance; and that officers review collection strategies to maximise compliance with the additional council tax for empty properties.

Task and Finish Group Updates

Fiona Rae, Overview and Scrutiny Manager, provided an update on the progress of various Task and Finish Groups. It was noted that the Young Carers and Fostering Task and Finish Groups had recently reported to Cabinet and received responses. The Fast Food Task and Finish Group was recommended for postponement to future years due to current limitations in regulatory avenues and resources. The committee noted that Task and Finish Group reports could be circulated and agreed by email up to May 2026 if required, with reports later presented to the next available committee meeting.

Cabinet Forward Plan

The committee reviewed the Cabinet Forward Plan, noting upcoming key decisions. It was noted that the Capita Contract Review would be considered at an informal online meeting in February 2026. The committee also noted that the Sustainable Design and Development Guidance Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) briefing had been circulated and a separate report to the committee was not deemed necessary.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee reviewed its work programme for 2025-26. It was noted that the final budget report would be considered at an informal online meeting in February 2026. A request to review the process for Tree Preservation Order (TPO) enforcements was added to the list of suggestions for the 2026-27 work programme. The committee agreed that the Youth Justice Plan 2025-26 Annual Report be reported to the Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

The meeting concluded with thanks to all involved.