We asked, you said, we did

Read more about this engagement.

We asked

We asked you to help us update our Kinship Care policy and contribute to the design and delivery of our services to carers.

You said

We issued a questionnaire for kinship carers and one for kinship children. A total of 25 carer questionnaires and 5 children and young people questionnaires were completed. We also invited seven carers (special guardians) to conversations lasting between 1 and 1.5 hours. In these conversations we talked about:

• Assessments
• Family group decision making
• The financial assessment and annual review
• The different types of support we offer carers

Carers told us:

• the assessment is a very difficult experience to go through at a difficult time for families. Carers noted that having:
  1. clear, consistent and timely communication throughout the process.
  2. a good understanding of the process and of the reality of becoming a carer.
  3. peer support provided early.

was key to help make the assessment experience easier.

• during assessment it was helpful to experience ‘good practice’ from practitioners: meaning the experience of interacting with not judgmental, patient practitioners; those making an effort to understand the carer and convey respect for their views -i.e. “double checking [with carer] what goes in a report.”
• About their financial worries, the difficulties in navigating the benefit system and the impact of the cost of living crisis. Some felt very strongly that it was unfair to means test the financial allowance special guardians receive, others spoke of the burden of the yearly financial review.
• When talking about engaging wider-family resources for the benefit of the child via family group decision making, many carers fully welcomed this, yet others worried that it would impose a ‘burden’ on family members who could not be reasonably expected to help.
• Barnet should play a role in bringing families together to make alternative arrangements to care for the child/ren in case the carer becomes unwell.
• The support most highly valued by carers was having ongoing light-touch contact, communication and guidance once they became carers, the provision of information and advice, having an allocated practitioner and therapeutic support.

We did

• We wrote the new ‘Barnet Kinship Care Offer’ to address carers’ ask for clear information. The Offer:
  1. has a new and expanded focus on the assessment process (pgs. 6-12) to reflect this feedback and aims to be a practical guide for carers at the time of assessment.
  2. details support offered to the different types of kinship carer on general support by practitioners, training, advice and peer groups; family group decision making; legal support, financial support, education, support to stay in work, therapeutic support, advocacy, accommodation, supporting family time.

• We did away with the means test for financial support.
• We will offer family group decision making (such as via Family Group Conferences) to consult family networks early and often.
• We commit to undertake assessments of prospective carers:
  1. focusing on the child and on their views;
  2. with an open mind, curiosity and a desire to know and understand you;
  3. in a spirit of partnership with you and your family.
  4. Setting out in our report your views and feelings as you tell us.
  5. Including the views of others close to you such as immediate family, friends and agencies.
• We will:
  1. design and develop a peer support system for Special Guardians to be able to draw on the support of other carers with lived experience from as early as possible during the process of becoming a kinship carer.
  2. review our safeguarding processes and practices in relation to kinship care to address internal and external communications and of how well integrated kinship care practice is in the safeguarding system to ensure an improved experience for kinship carers.

• In addition to the contact and support provided to special guardians via at least three visits during the first year of the legal order being established, we will ensure that support continues with yearly ‘staying in touch’ meetings. This will be to provide ‘light-touch’ contact for carers and children and to reassure the Council of their ongoing wellbeing.

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We asked

We asked for your views on proposals to include 26 parking spaces created by converting the former garages in South Mead/Corner Mead into the Colindale CPZ (Zone CL2).

The proposals were part of an agreed Barnet Homes and The Barnet Group planning permission relating to Little Strand to convert some of their land into parking areas to provide the area residents with more parking options.

The Barnet Group gave consent to Barnet’s Highways service to formalise the parking spaces by including them in Colindale CPZ (Zone CL2) to enable enforcement.

The experimental scheme became operational on 22 July 2024, with the first 6 months of the scheme's operation constituting the statutory consultation period

In addition, we installed double yellow lines at the entrances to the parking area and other locations on the site to maintain access and provide sightlines.

You said

We wrote to 20 properties inviting them to take part in the statutory consultation and received 4 responses. Issues and objections raised included:

• Insufficient parking provision on the estate
• that parking controls should operate at weekends to prevent non-residents from parking on the estate outside the controlled parking hours
• that parking should be protected or guaranteed for residents
• increased traffic at school peak times
• that the area is well served by public transport with a suggestion

It was also suggested that we should improve public transport and a request for the introduction of measures that could reduce the need for car use.

We did

Having reviewed all feedback and monitored traffic and parking availability during the consultation period, we have decided to make the experimental extension to the Colindale CPZ Zone (CL2) permanent.

The increase in parking availability during the trial period met the parking requirements of the area’s residents and their visitors, and therefore the experimental extension has helped in resolving issues that were present prior to changes.

We will write to residents informing them of our decision to make the scheme permanent. Restrictions imposed during the experimental period will remain in place until the CPZ is made permanent.

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We asked

We asked residents for their views on the refresh of the Fit and Active Barnet (FAB) Strategy which aims to guide the achievement of a more active and healthier borough through increased participation in physical activity (including leisure and sport) opportunities. Through a collaborative approach we are committed to achieve ensure that all residents can live more active and healthier lifestyle.

You said

We invited around 43 local residents to take part in engagement sessions, working with different partner organisations to hear their thoughts before finalising the strategy. We made sure to include people of different ages, religions, genders, income levels, abilities, and ethnic backgrounds. Our aim was to better understand the perception and approach that Barnet residents have regarding Physical Activity and in particular:

1. What being physically active mean for them
2. What are the barriers that stop them from being active?
3. What can be done to reduce the obstacles?
4. How do they get their information about sport and fitness opportunity
5. The responses to the above questions were varied but the top four barriers to participation were:
6. Lack of motivation
7. Health
8. Financial
9. Not aware of where to find out about opportunities

We did

Feedback and suggestions gathered have been incorporated into the development of the FAB Strategy which commits us to:

1. Ensure that the FAB Hub continues to provide a ‘one stop’ resource for all things sport, physical activity, leisure and wellbeing for residents and health professionals.
2. Continue to deliver a commitment to a Dementia Friendly Barnet and the Barnet Charter for Mental Health.
3. To continue to build on the success of targeted FAB communication campaigns, encouraging more residents to Get Active and Give it a Go
4. To promote existing physical activity interventions and explore opportunities for the creation of new free or low-cost interventions, particularly targeted amongst the borough’s lower participation groups/communities

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We asked

We asked for your views on our proposed Meads and Lyndhurst Park Flood Alleviation Scheme.

The proposed scheme aims to:

• reduce flood risk to properties within the Silk Stream catchment by increasing the storage of water within the open space
• create new habitats for wildlife
• deliver biodiversity, environmental and amenity enhancements to the park and its users.

You said

We wrote to 1409 residents and businesses inviting them to have their say on our proposals. We received 6 responses

50% of respondents strongly supported our proposals, with no one strongly opposing them.

21 residents also attended a Community Engagement event hosted by our Action for Silk Stream partner, Thames21. Residents shared their:

• Suggestions on the placement of our proposed detention basins / Wetlands
• Concerns around fly tipping
• Views on re-introducing a play area
• Suggestions on the trees, plants and other vegetation that we should introduce

We did

We have considered all the feedback received and final designs are now being developed ahead of progressing with a tender process for construction. The scheme is expected to go out to tender in Autumn 2025.

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We asked

We asked how we could improve Early Help, mental health and well being services for children and young people in Barnet.

You said

Three people responded to the survey and said they had not accessed or did not know how to access these services

We did

We are integrating our Early Help and Clinical mental health and well being services. Alongside this, we are developing a model that will allow children and young people to be better informed about our services and able to access them more readily.

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We asked

We asked for your views on the draft Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) before finalising the document.

You said

12 responses were received, and the responses have been summarised, responded to, and changes made to the document where appropriate. The main issues, arising from the consultation and the Council’s response to them broadly centred around the following matters:

• further details of the evidence base, and methodology applied to justify employment and training obligations
• the requirement to secure and provide a large number or all of the financial obligations within the SPD (particularly the full set of employment and training obligations) may compromise the viability and deliverability of development
• with reference to Affordable Housing, clarification is sought within the SPD as to whether fast-track schemes which deliver 35% affordable housing are also subject to an early-stage viability review. The SPD should acknowledge the Portfolio approach towards affordable housing provision on public land for Purpose Build Student Accommodation and Build to Rent Schemes
• further details should be provided within the SPD on the Councils transport infrastructure projects envisaged to come forward via S106 planning obligations
• health contributions are covered under the CIL Regulations and to secure further financial obligations towards healthcare provision under S106 Agreements may result in “double counting” with the CIL provision
• clarification sought that financial contributions towards open space apply to major and large-scale developments only
• financial contribution towards maintenance for of offsite play space may be unnecessary to make the development acceptable in planning terms
• the SPD seeks to secure three separate financial obligations towards Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG); Urban Green Factor (UGF); on the grounds that it unduly onerous on developers to provide, and may compromise viability and deliverability of schemes
• a respondent recommends that additional obligations on water quality and management should be added to the final SPD.
• the SPD should consider whether it’s the Planning Obligations SPD could be used as a mechanism to implement Local Plan policy and proposals relating to the conservation of the historic environment.

We did

In accordance with Part 5 (the Regulation 18(4(b) of The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, a Statement (presented in table format) setting out a summary of all the representations received and the Council’s proposed response to them

The representations received have been summarised, responded to, and changes were identified in the Consultation Statement and made to the final Planning Obligations SPD. A number of points raised in the consultation submissions merit changes to the SPD in order to provide greater clarity on some of the planning obligations.

The adopted Planning Obligations SPD, and a detailed Consultation Statement are available to view on the council’s website:

• Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)
• Consultation Statement

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We asked

We asked for your views on the proposed new playground at Watling Park.

You said

We received 61 responses to the online questionnaire and a direct email. The key themes from the public consultation were:

• 75% of respondents liked what was proposed for the new playground.
• Request to have more benches and picnic tables.
• Request for more climbing elements in the play equipment.
• Request to cater for older children and adults.
• Request for a sand pit.

We did

The order has been placed for the new playground, and it will be installed in summer 2025.

An additional bench has been included in the design, so there will be three benches in total. The picnic table will now be a large wheelchair accessible picnic table that can seat more people.

There is a wide range of climbing equipment in the design with banister bars and a tower net, although this was not clearly visible from the images, so we have not added any more climbing equipment.

The playground is for children, so we have not added any more equipment for older people. A new outdoor gym will also be installed in Watling Park in summer 2025, which older children and adults can use.

We will not be providing a sand pit, as the council has no funding to maintain a sand pit. Sand pits require regular raking and topping up of sand. There is a sand pit at Market Place playground which was installed as a pilot project in September 2024. This is being maintained, and we are monitoring the time and cost of this work, before making any decisions on new sand features.

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• 91% of respondents supported the principle of additional green space at Brent Cross Town

• 82% agreed with the proposed tree planting

• 77% agreed that the proposed path connecting Claremont Green to Brent Terrace should be pedestrian only

• Suggestions were most frequently made for the park to be consistently maintained and amenities such as outdoor seating, gym equipment and seasonal landscaping to be improved.

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We asked

We asked for your views on the proposed changes to the Council Tax Support (CTS) Scheme in 2025/26.

You said

We received 418 responses to the statutory consultation during the seven-week period. Responses were mainly received from residents (95.05%), and also received from the Greater London Authority, Chipping Barnet Foodbank and Citizens Advice Bureau.

Key findings on the overall proposal were:

• three quarters of respondents disagree (75.07%, 277 out of 369 respondents) with the council’s proposed CTS Scheme for 2025/26 (64.50%, 238 out of 369 respondents strongly disagree, and 10.57%, 39 out of 369 respondents tend to disagree)
• a minority agree (12.74%, 47 out of 369 respondents) with the council’s proposed CTS Scheme for 2025/26 (5.42%, 20 out of 369 strongly agree, and 7.32%, 27 out of 369 respondents tend to agree)
• The remainder were either neutral (9.21 %, 31 out of 369 respondents) or said they did not know or were not sure (2.98%, 11 out of 369 respondents).

We did

The feedback in the consultation was considered, however, due to the need to make a saving within the council a balanced approach was required.

At the Cabinet meeting on 18 February 2025 it was decided to make the changes proposed within the consultation, this included the maximum award of Council Tax Support for working-age residents was lowered from 72% to 70% and a the scheme is now capped at the equivalent of Council Tax Band C, this means that anyone residing in a property that is banded for Council Tax between Band D-H will now have their Council Tax Support award calculated up the equivalent amount of a Band C property.

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We asked

We asked for your views on the experimental Burnt Oak Central (BOC) Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ).

The experimental scheme became operational on 8 April 2024 and was introduced in order to address local parking concerns and traffic flow problems.

You said

We received 9 responses to the statutory consultation during the 6 month consultation period. Responses were received from residents and schools in the area and from the surrounding CPZs. Feedback included requests:

• for an extension of the double yellow lines at the junction of Gloucester Grove with Montrose Avenue, to prevent vehicles from overrunning the footway.
• from schools for staff parking permits and allocated parking spaces for drop-offs and pickups during school peak hours.
• from neighbouring CPZs that the operational hours in their CPZs to be brought in line with those of BOC to prevent parking displacement.
• to increase parking for businesses that were facing parking problems following the introduction of Burnt Oak Central CPZ.

We did

Based on the feedback received we have decided to make the BOC CPZ permanent from 14 April 2025. The CPZ will continue under the experimental order until this date.

Alongside making the CPZ permanent, we have also:

• added the request for extension of double yellow lines at the junction of Gloucester Grove with Montrose Avenue into the parking minor works programme for investigations.
• provided limited parking on Montrose Avenue to help with school drop-offs and pickups.
• made provisions for school staff parking.
• introduced business permit parking in Montrose Avenue to help local businesses
• added the request to review the operational hours in Burnt Oak (Zone BO) and Mill Hill (Zone E) for consideration in the borough’s CPZ Programme

We have written to residents detailing the outcome of this consultation. You can read this letter here.