The Council meeting on Tuesday 27 January 2026 saw the reintroduction of weekly separate food waste collections, a key manifesto commitment from the Labour administration. Councillors also debated and passed a motion calling for a dedicated substance misuse strategy for care-experienced children and young people, following tragic deaths linked to drug misuse.

Welcoming Weekly Separate Food Waste Collections

The council has voted to welcome the reintroduction of weekly separate food waste collections, a commitment made in the Barnet Labour manifesto of 2022. Councillor Alan Schneiderman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, presented the motion, highlighting that the service was scrapped by the previous Conservative administration in 2018. He noted that food waste constitutes almost a third of household waste and that separating it will increase Barnet's recycling rate by an estimated 4%. The collected food waste will be processed through anaerobic digestion to produce clean energy and fertiliser. Concerns about pests were addressed, with bins designed to be lockable and prevent wildlife interference. The new service is set to begin at the end of March, with hundreds of brown bins already being delivered and the first collection vehicle having arrived. The motion was carried with 33 votes in favour and 17 against.

Substance Misuse Strategy for Care-Experienced Children and Young People

A motion calling for a dedicated substance misuse strategy for care-experienced children and young people was debated and passed, with an amendment from the Labour group. Councillor Lucy Wakeley, who moved the original opposition motion, highlighted the significantly higher risks of substance misuse among this vulnerable group due to factors such as trauma and instability. She emphasised the need for a coordinated strategy that brings together various services, focusing on prevention, early intervention, and trauma-informed support.

Councillor Pauline Coakley Webb, Cabinet Member for Family Friendly Barnet, moved an amendment that was accepted by Councillor Wakeley. The amendment proposed that this dedicated strategy would be developed and published as a section within the new corporate parenting strategy by the end of the 2026/27 financial year. This approach was seen as an efficient and effective way to bolster the focus on this critical issue. The amended motion was carried unanimously.

Other Matters Discussed

The meeting also included tributes to several individuals who had recently passed away, including former councillors and community figures. Members also debated and voted on several other motions, including those concerning the Employment Rights Bill, the Renters' Rights Act, and congratulating Queen Elizabeth's School Barnet on its academic achievements. Reports were received from various committees, including the Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee, and the Employment Sub-Committee. The results of the Hendon ward by-election were also noted, with Shimon Ryde elected as the new councillor for Hendon ward.

The council also agreed to several administrative matters, including changes to committee dates and memberships, and the approval of salary packages for new posts within Children and Family Services and the Brent Cross Cricklewood Regeneration programme. The meeting concluded with a motion to exclude the press and public for the discussion of confidential information.