Councillor Richard Barnes

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.

Council - Tuesday 15th October, 2024 7.00 pm

The meeting began with a series of speeches on the topic of Black History Month and then moved on to approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9 July 2024, note the contents of a number of reports, appoint new officers, and approve a new constitution for the council. Two motions were debated and voted on: a motion to celebrate the achievements of the Labour administration, which was carried, and a motion to regret the government's decision to means-test Winter Fuel Allowance, which was lost.

Strategic Planning Committee - Monday 14th October, 2024 7.00 pm

The Strategic Planning Committee voted to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of Intec House on Moxon Street in High Barnet by 6 votes to 2. This was the committee's third time considering plans for the site, following a previous approval in November 2023 and a refusal in July 2024.