Councillor Caroline Stock

Adults and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Thursday 21st November, 2024 7.00 pm

This meeting of the Adults Health and Overview and Scrutiny Subcommittee was a themed meeting about Public Health. There were detailed discussions and a presentation on the Public Health Grant, the state of adult social care in the borough, the Barnet Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2023-24, and the Adult Social Care Annual Complaints Report. The committee also received a verbal update on the Discharge to Assess Task and Finish Group Report, and received a presentation and update on the Public Health Work Plan and the renewal of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The committee noted all of the reports it received.

Planning Committee - Wednesday 20th November, 2024 7.00 pm

The meeting considered four planning applications. The committee voted to grant planning permission for all of the applications with the exception of 112D Park Road, Barnet, which was deferred to allow for additional objections and conditions to be made.

Cabinet - Monday 18th November, 2024 7.00 pm

The Cabinet agreed to make significant changes to its capital programme, reducing expenditure by £69.5m. They also approved plans for the Grand Park North East development, with Lovell Partnerships Ltd. as their chosen partner for the scheme. They further endorsed the recommendations made in a report on GP Access in the borough, and a review of capital contracts with Capita. Finally, they approved changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme for consultation, and a proposal to decommission Pay & Display machines.

Licensing and General Purposes Committee - Thursday 7th November, 2024 7.00 pm

The Licensing and General Purposes Committee approved a revised Licensing Policy [^1] for the period 2025 to 2030, and recommended that it be adopted at the next full meeting of the council. The committee noted that public consultation had taken place and that 24 responses had been received. Concerns were raised about a perceived increase in male-dominated cafés, with members citing businesses such as the Toscana, Cafe 01, Tirana, and Pizreni on Vivian Avenue in Hendon. Some respondents believed these venues were intimidating to women, with one resident stating:

the Licensing and General Purposes Committee of Barnet Council