The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Barnet Council met on Tuesday 24 March 2026 to review the effectiveness of the borough-wide Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) and to discuss the Q3 financial forecast for 2025/26. The committee also received updates on Task and Finish Group activities, the Cabinet Forward Plan, and the committee's work programme.

Review of Borough-wide Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs)

The committee reviewed the effectiveness of the borough-wide Public Space Protection Order (PSPO1), which was implemented in December 2022 and renewed in December 2025 for a further three years. The PSPO, which includes eleven conditions aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour, has been credited with acting as a deterrent and an effective enforcement tool. During the financial year 2024/25, 150 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) were issued for breaches of the PSPO. The committee also noted the introduction of three new PSPOs (PSPO2, PSPO3, and PSPO4) covering bird feeding, gated area restrictions, and loitering in specific wards. These new orders were developed in response to community concerns and evidence of detrimental behaviour.

Discussions also covered the Community Safety Team's work, including their case volumes, anti-social behaviour initiatives, and the use of enforcement tools. The team logged 2313 cases in the financial year 2024/25, with the majority of case closures resulting from issues being resolved compliantly. The report highlighted the use of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs), with 962 issued between April 2024 and March 2025. The committee was informed about the Community Safety Hubs, which provide residents with a drop-in centre to report concerns, and the 'Clear, Hold, Build' initiative on the Grahame Park Estate, which has seen significant reductions in crime and anti-social behaviour. The CCTV infrastructure has also been upgraded, with over 775 camera streams now monitored 24/7. The Prevent agenda, aimed at safeguarding individuals vulnerable to radicalisation, saw 2453 education professionals and frontline staff receive training in 2024/25. The Barnet Zero Tolerance to Hate Crime Project continues to work on increasing reporting and support for victims, with a recorded drop in reported hate crimes in the borough.

The committee discussed the effectiveness of the PSPOs and the data presented, with particular attention paid to the PSPO conditions and their impact. Concerns were raised about the clarity of data presented in relation to the PSPO's effectiveness, and the committee requested that future reports provide more specific data on the impact of the orders. Recommendations were made to ensure that future reports clearly distinguish between PSPO-related data and data related to other environmental legislation. The committee also discussed the need for ongoing review and the importance of collecting sufficient data to assess the effectiveness of the PSPOs.

Chief Finance Officer Report - 2025/26 Q3 Financial Forecast and 2025/26 Budget Management

The committee reviewed the Chief Finance Officer's report on the Q3 financial forecast for 2025/26, which indicated a balanced revenue budget position after the use of contingency funds and top-ups to reserves. The report detailed savings delivery, with 96.5% of planned savings forecast to be achieved, primarily driven by additional savings from progression reviews supporting individuals with learning disabilities and mental health conditions. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was forecasting a deficit of £4.7 million, with a carry-forward reserve of £6.6 million. The capital programme was forecast to underspend by £15.42 million.

Significant discussion took place regarding the council's debt position, particularly concerning outstanding debts with NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and adult social care. An agreement had been reached with the ICB regarding tripartite funding invoices for children's external residential placement packages, and a revised process is now in place to avoid the accumulation of disputed debt. The committee sought clarification on the amount of NHS debt proposed for write-off and how this would impact the council's reserves. The Director of Finance confirmed that £4.3 million of children's ICB debt would be written off, and this had been factored into the year-end forecast, with contingency remaining.

The committee also discussed the council's investment portfolio, which had outperformed its benchmark, and the interest rates on outstanding loans. The Chief Finance Officer explained that the investment portfolio was managed for liquidity and to maximise returns on cash balances.

Task and Finish Group Updates

The committee received an update on the progress of various Task and Finish Groups. The report indicated that the groups on Young Carers and Fostering had received positive responses from Cabinet, with most recommendations accepted. The committee was informed that there were no ongoing Task and Finish Groups as the council term was ending. The committee noted the progress of these groups and agreed to move on.

Cabinet Forward Plan (Key Decision Schedule)

The committee reviewed the Cabinet Forward Plan for 2026. Members were invited to identify any items they wished to request for pre-decision scrutiny. The Chair and Vice-Chair agreed to discuss the plan further to determine which items should be included in the committee's work programme.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee reviewed its Work Programme for 2026. It was noted that the programme would be confirmed in July following approval by Annual Council. A suggestion was made to transfer the Youth Justice Plan to the Children and Education Subcommittee. Additionally, the committee agreed to add the emergency plan to the work programme for scrutiny in the next six months, focusing on the council's role and response to events, particularly in light of recent incidents.

The committee agreed to note the work programme and make the necessary amendments.

The meeting concluded with thanks to all members and officers for their work throughout the council term.