The Cabinet of Barnet Council met on Monday 15 June 2026 to discuss a range of issues including housing delivery, financial performance, and the council's plan for Barnet. Key decisions included the approval of the Barnett Homes 2026-27 delivery plan and the adoption of the Sustainable Design and Development Guidance SPD.

Barnett Homes 2026-27 Delivery Plan

The Cabinet approved the Barnett Homes 2026-27 delivery plan, which outlines ambitious new targets for repairs, tenant satisfaction, and the delivery of new homes. Councillor Kate Conway highlighted the organisation's commitment to improvement, noting that targets for non-emergency repairs are set to increase to 80% and emergency repairs to 92% in the first half of the year, rising to 85% and 95% respectively in the second half. The plan also includes an increased target for housing care leavers, aiming for 50 placements, up from 40.

Councillor Conway also noted that Barnett Homes has achieved bronze and silver awards for its work on domestic abuse and is aiming for gold. She explained that the approach to targets for anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse reporting has been adjusted to encourage reporting rather than simply meeting a numerical target, a move supported by the regulator.

Councillor Moore raised concerns about the wider determinants of health and the impact of housing on mental health and wellbeing, specifically referencing the damp and mould work under Awab's Law phase one. He inquired about plans for phase two, which will address wider hazards such as cold and excessive heat. Councillor Conway confirmed that plans for phase two are underway, pending government guidance, and that transparency and good governance will be maintained.

Councillor Zinkin raised concerns about the management of complex repairs, noting that while straightforward repairs are improving, more complicated issues sometimes present challenges. He also questioned the underperformance in completing homelessness appeals within the statutory timeframe, with only 69.5% completed on time against a target of 95%. The response indicated that this was due to a significant increase in the volume and complexity of appeals, and that additional resources are being allocated to address this.

The Cabinet delegated authority to the Executive Director of Growth and other officers to approve change control notices, provided they are within budget, do not constitute a key decision, and meet the objectives of the delivery plan. Minor amendments to the delivery plan were also permitted.

Sustainable Design and Development Guidance SPD

The Cabinet adopted the Sustainable Design and Development Guidance Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which provides a roadmap for development in Barnet, updating guidance that was over a decade old. Councillor Kate Houston praised the document as clear, user-friendly, and comprehensive, covering areas such as shop fronts, advertising, and house extensions with helpful graphics.

Councillor Zinkin raised concerns about non-compliant shop fronts, particularly in conservation areas, and questioned the effectiveness of the design review panel. Councillor Houston acknowledged the point about shop fronts and suggested that while retrospective enforcement is difficult, the council can set standards and encourage good practice. The officers clarified that planning controls are triggered by new applications, but the SPD emphasizes high-quality shop fronts and encourages applicants to restore historic elements or reflect the historic context of their surroundings.

Councillor Moore highlighted the SPD's focus on environmental factors affecting health, including air quality, noise, and heat mitigation, and its guidance on using health impact assessments. He also noted the SPD's alignment with the new suicide prevention strategy, emphasizing how design can support community health and wellbeing.

The Cabinet approved the recommendations to review representations received during the consultation, adopt the SPD as a local development document, and authorize officers to prepare and publish an adoption statement. Authority was delegated to the Executive Director for Growth, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, to make any necessary factual or minor editing changes prior to publishing the final SPD.

Financial Performance and Plan for Barnet

The Cabinet noted the council's financial outturn for 2025-26, which showed an underspend of almost £10 million against the budget. Councillor Peter Zinkin expressed concern about the significant variance, questioning the accuracy of forecasting and the council's approach to the good news, with departments denying the continuing nature of the underspend to protect their budgets. He also highlighted a £5 million write-off of NHS debt in children's services, which offset some of the underspends in other areas, making it difficult to ascertain the true underlying financial position.

Councillor Zinkin also raised questions about the street scene budget, noting a £1 million top-up to street scene reserves without clear explanation, and suggesting that more money might have been available for cleaning the borough. Councillor Anissa Schneiderman explained that the £1 million in street scene reserves came from extended producer responsibility grant payments from the government to support waste handling costs.

The Cabinet approved recommendations to note the final outturn for 2025-26, the current use of reserves and EFS, expenditure against the capital budget, and information on service loans and investments. They also delegated authority to the 151 officer to allocate the pay and non-pay inflation contingency budget for 2026-27, subject to certain conditions, and approved the use of the extended producer responsibility grant and changes to the capital programme.

Other Discussions

The meeting also touched upon the council's Plan for Barnet, with discussions on reducing poverty, adult social care, and housing. Councillor Zinkin raised concerns about the statistic on homelessness appeals, stating that failing a statutory requirement by such a margin was unclear in its implications. He also noted that the council seemed to be improving at straightforward tasks but struggling with more complex issues.

The issue of parking charges in Mays Lane was also discussed, following a petition from local residents and businesses. Councillor Longstaffer questioned the rationale behind introducing charges in an area not near a railway station or major town centre, arguing it would negatively impact local businesses. Councillor Schneiderman explained that the charges were introduced in conjunction with Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) to prevent all-day parking and ensure turnover for businesses. He suggested a potential compromise of aligning the parking charge period with the broader Chipping Barnet CPZ hours.

The Cabinet also noted the Cabinet forward plan and extended congratulations to Dean Cohen on his MBE.