The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Barnet Council met on Wednesday 21 January 2026 to discuss a range of issues, including the significant increase in empty homes across the borough, the council's approach to managing its estates in partnership with the voluntary and community sector, and updates on various task and finish groups. Key decisions included noting the rise in empty homes and agreeing to explore further analysis and review collection strategies for council tax on empty properties.

Empty Homes in Barnet

The committee received a report detailing a significant increase in empty homes across Barnet, with a 57% rise in long-term empty properties over the past year. While the number of second homes has decreased by 35% following the introduction of a premium, the overall number of vacant dwellings remains a concern. Councillor Ross Houston, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, highlighted that Barnet has the highest total number of empty homes in London, with 3,278 properties classified as long-term empty. The report noted that these empty properties are spread across the borough but are particularly concentrated in areas undergoing regeneration, new build developments, and areas with a high incidence of rental properties.

The committee discussed the council's current approach to tackling empty properties, which includes reactive work by Housing Regulatory Services to address public health issues and secure properties, promotion of Empty Property Grants, and exploration of Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs). Planning Enforcement also plays a role by issuing Section 215 Notices for properties detrimental to local amenity. An investigation into council-owned empty properties identified 56 cases for further scrutiny, with 42 resolved by December 2025.

The committee noted that additional resources, particularly an extra Housing Enforcement Officer funded through capitalisation of the empty property grant budget, would significantly increase the council's capacity to address long-term empty properties. Planning Enforcement also requires dedicated funding for direct action.

The committee made several recommendations:

• Noting the high level of empty dwellings and the 57% increase in long-term empty homes.
• Welcoming the reduction in second homes due to the premium.
• Considering the council's current approach to long-term empty properties.
• Confirming current priorities in addressing empty homes given limited resources.
• Noting that further work could be undertaken subject to resource availability.
• Noting the planned appointment of an additional Housing Enforcement Officer.
• Recommending that Cabinet identify resources for more direct action by the Planning Enforcement Team.
• Recommending that the Lead Member for Housing and Regeneration write to the Minister of State for Housing to request the reinstatement of funding for surveying empty properties and for grant funding or incentives.
• New Recommendation 4: Requesting officers undertake further analysis to identify opportunities to bring additional empty properties into use, focusing on those that could meet the highest areas of identified need, including temporary accommodation and homelessness avoidance.
• New Recommendation 5: Requesting officers review collection strategies and develop options to maximise payment compliance with the additional council tax for empty properties.

Estates and the Voluntary and Community Sector

The committee received an update on the relationship between Barnet Council's Estates department and Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) tenants. Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Strategic Partnerships, Economy, and Effective Council, and Councillor Zahra Beg, Cabinet Member for Equalities, Poverty Reduction and the Voluntary & Community Sector, presented the report.

The council's approach is structured around a formal landlord-tenant relationship, managed by qualified Chartered Surveyors in the Estates team. This is supported by the Community Asset Panel, comprising officers and elected members, which oversees asset allocation, rent discounts, and the Social Value Matrix. This matrix, aligned with the council's Social Value Policy, assigns monetary values to social outcomes to assess the benefits provided by VCS organisations. A new process, introduced in early 2025, replaced the previous Community Benefit Assessment Tool (CBAT) with this panel and matrix system, aiming for greater transparency and fairness. A service charge has also been introduced on new leases to contribute to property maintenance.

Concerns were raised by Councillor Peter Zinkin (Leader of the Conservative Group) regarding transparency, particularly the reporting of decisions and the lack of detailed reports for unsuccessful applicants. He also questioned the monitoring of social value delivery. Officers assured the committee that efforts were being made to improve the publication of decisions and that the Community Participation Team periodically reviews VCS groups' performance. An annual review of VCS group performance on social value was proposed and agreed. The simplification of the Social Value Matrix was also discussed, with officers noting that one-to-one support is provided to groups and that the matrix has already been simplified based on feedback.

The committee noted the update and agreed to consider the report's contents for any areas requiring further scrutiny or referral to Cabinet.

Task and Finish Group Updates

Fiona Rae, Overview and Scrutiny Manager, provided an update on the progress of various Task and Finish Groups. The Fast Food Task and Finish Group was noted to be postponed due to limited regulatory avenues and resources, with a recommendation to revisit it after the local elections or in future years. Cabinet responses to the Primary Care (GP) Access, Allotment Governance and Management, and Food Security Task and Finish Groups were appended to the report. The committee agreed to the possibility of circulating and agreeing Task and Finish Group reports by email up to May 2026 due to time pressures, with reports to be formally noted at the next available committee meeting.

Cabinet Forward Plan

The committee reviewed the Cabinet Forward Plan, noting upcoming key decisions. It was agreed that the Capita Contract Review would be considered at an informal, online meeting in February 2026. The briefing on the Sustainable Design and Development Guidance Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was circulated, and the committee agreed that a full report to the committee was not necessary. The proposed amendments to the Council Tax Discretionary Relief Policy were also noted.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee reviewed its Work Programme for 2025-26. It was agreed 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 scrutiny work programme suggestions for 2026-27. The committee also agreed to allow Task and Finish Group reports to be circulated and agreed by email up to May 2026 if required, with formal noting at a later meeting.