Councillor Emma Whysall

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

Planning Committee - Wednesday 30th October, 2024 7.00 pm

The meeting considered six planning applications. Planning permission was granted for the demolition and rebuild of the Church Hall of St Mary the Virgin in High Barnet, and for the change of use of a house at 7 Northfield Road in East Barnet to a children's home. Planning permission was refused for the retention of an outbuilding at 78 King's Drive in Edgware, the alterations to and rendering of Fenton House in High Barnet, and the removal of an oak tree at Fairfield in Whetstone. Permission was granted for the removal of two false acacia trees at Fairfield in Whetstone and at 79 Oakleigh Park North in Whetstone.

Local Pension Board - Tuesday 29th October, 2024 6.00 pm

The agenda for this meeting of Barnet Council's Local Pension Board included updates on the administration and performance of the London Borough of Barnet Pension Fund.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Monday 28th October, 2024 7.00 pm

The meeting considered a proposal for the extension of three contracts with Capita and the proposed new Fees and Charges for 2025/26. The committee requested further information from officers on business and Council tax collection rates and asked that an informal group be set up to look at the future of the Capita contracts. The committee also requested that officers investigate the possibility of tapering the proposed charge for arranging care for people above the capital and savings threshold.