The Council of the London Borough of Barnet convened for an extraordinary meeting to confer the Honorary Freedom of the Borough upon five organisations in recognition of their exceptional service. The Council also held its ordinary meeting, during which various announcements were made, including congratulations to new parents and acknowledgements of deceased former councillors, and discussions took place on a range of important local issues.

Conferral of Honorary Freedom of the Borough

The Council unanimously voted to confer the Honorary Freedom of the London Borough of Barnet upon Hatzola Northwest, Hatzola Edgware, Hatzola HBS, the Community Security Trust (CST), and Shomrim North West London. This honour, the highest the council can bestow, was granted in recognition of the organisations' extraordinary service to the borough.

Hatzola was commended for its outstanding contribution to the health and well-being of Barnet residents through its free, 24-hour volunteer emergency medical response service. Councillors highlighted Hatzola's resilience in continuing its vital work following an attack on its ambulances in March 2026.

Shomrim was recognised for its invaluable service as a volunteer-led community safety organisation, providing 24-hour patrols to deter crime, offer reassurance, and respond to emergencies, including antisemitic incidents and violent attacks. Volunteers were praised for their bravery in running towards danger to support victims and assist emergency services, notably during a terrorist attack on Golders Green Road in April 2026.

The Community Security Trust (CST) was acknowledged as Britain's leading expert on antisemitism, providing security advice and equipment to Jewish schools, organisations, synagogues, and community buildings across the UK. Its research was noted as informing public policy and safeguarding wider British society. The dedication of CST volunteers in providing security for the Jewish community, particularly during a wave of antisemitic incidents, was highlighted as epitomising the best of Barnet.

Councillor Barry Rawlins, speaking in support of the motion, stated, Our partners during this difficult time for the community have been CST and Shomrim. And we've had to work even closer since the terrible stabbings that happened later in April. And I want to pay particular tribute to the Shomrim volunteers who responded so quickly in helping to isolate the suspect and potentially save lives.

Councillor Dean Cohen MBE, also speaking in support, added, Through it all, these organisations have not waited for instructions. They have simply shown up, again and again, with medical kits, with patrol vehicles, with expertise built over decades, with volunteers who run into danger rather than away from it.

Ordinary Council Meeting Business

The ordinary council meeting commenced with an invocation by Imam Hamid Qureshi, who also offered prayers for the newly appointed Mayor, Councillor Zahra Beg, the first Muslim woman to hold the position in the London Borough of Barnet.

Official Announcements and Tributes:

• The Mayor congratulated Councillor James Esses and his wife Sabrina on the birth of their baby boy, Oscar.
• A moment of silence was held in honour of former councillor Alan Turner, who served as a councillor for Burnt Oak from 1991 to 2006. Councillor Kath McGuirk paid tribute to him, remembering him as a force of nature with a big heart and great generosity.
• The Mayor congratulated several Barnet residents and community figures who were named in the King's Birthday Honours list 2026, including Councillor Dean Cohen MBE for his services to charity and the community.
• The Mayor announced that the Mayor's Office had been working with the British Embassy in Berlin to promote London-wide twinnings with boroughs in Berlin, with Barnet being used as a positive example.
• The Mayor also mentioned receiving letters from twin towns in France, Tempelhof Schoenberg and Chaville, regarding the election of new mayors.
• Congratulations were extended to Saracens Women for winning the Premiership Women's Rugby.

Public Questions:

• Mr Sims asked whether Barnet Council would support a judicial review being sought by several London Borough mayors against the Mayor of London regarding the lowering of affordable homes targets, alleging a lack of proper statutory process and consultation. Councillor Barry Rawlings, Cabinet Member for Strategic Partnerships, Economy, and Effective Council, stated that Barnet Council had no plans to join the legal action, highlighting the council's own strong record in delivering new homes, including a strategic target of 50% affordable homes in its new local plan. He added, I'd rather spend money on providing homes for people than paying lawyers for judicial reviews. Mr Sims expressed dissatisfaction with the answer, questioning the definition of affordable.

Questions to the Leader, Cabinet Members and Committee Chairs:

• Councillor Peter Zinkin questioned an answer regarding planning decisions, expressing confusion about an appeal mentioned in relation to a B&Q example. Councillor Alan Schneiderman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, clarified that such decisions had been called in by regional and national government under both Conservative and Labour administrations.
• Councillor Jennifer Graycock asked what more could be done to protect the health of young people, suggesting the closure of establishments selling vapes. Councillor Schneiderman reported on the seizure of over 500,000 illegal goods, including vapes, and stated the need for further powers to shut down illegal vape shops and educate the public on their dangers.
• Councillor Josh Mastin-Lee questioned why the council had been misled about the costs associated with the Regent's Park Road bus lane scheme. Councillor Ross Houston, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, explained that TfL was expected to reallocate funding for the scheme to the council's lit programme, and that 80% of the expenditure was on road resurfacing, which still benefits the borough.
• Councillor Alison Cornelius asked about the prioritisation of road repairs and the timeframe for filling potholes. Councillor Schneiderman responded that road repairs are prioritised based on condition surveys and severity, not political affiliation, and invited her to provide details of any unrepaired potholes.
• Councillor Ayners inquired about the practical effect of a lane rental scheme for West Hendon and the borough. Councillor Schneiderman announced that TfL had approved Barnet's lane rental scheme, which would incentivise utility companies to speed up works and avoid busy roads during peak times, with potential charges of up to £2,500 per day.
• Councillor Ajith Menon asked about measures to reduce the number of residents in temporary accommodation. Councillor Houston outlined a range of measures, including tenancy sustainment, a temporary accommodation reduction plan, and a new policy to take out ten-year leases for temporary accommodation. He emphasised the importance of building more homes as the primary solution.
• Councillor CSU questioned the transparency of the multi-criteria analysis process for implementing Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs), citing an instance where resident opposition to a CPZ extension in South Underhill was ignored. Councillor Schneiderman defended the process, stating that CPZs are considered based on identified problems and implemented on an experimental basis to monitor performance.
• Councillor Alison Cornelius asked the Chairman of the new Finance and Growth Committee about his definition of success for the committee. The Chairman emphasised the importance of transparency in council finances and the need for an educative process to ensure all members understand the financial situation.

Motions:

• Motion on Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence in Social Housing: Moved by Councillor Sara Conway, this motion welcomed the government's proposed measures to give landlords new powers to evict domestic abuse perpetrators from social homes, allowing survivors to remain in their homes. The motion was supported by Councillor Jennifer Grocock, who urged for proactive measures and a clear implementation plan. Councillor Conway responded, highlighting Barnet Council's existing work, including Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance accreditation and the Barnet Sanctuary Project. The motion was carried.
• Motion on Defending Local Democracy in Planning Decisions: Moved by Councillor Shimon Ryde, this motion expressed concern about upcoming changes to the planning system, which would reduce councillors' ability to call in applications and limit residents' objections from triggering referrals to planning committees. Amendments were proposed by Councillor Charli Thompson, focusing on housing targets reflecting local need, and by Councillor Ross Houston, clarifying issues around affordable homes and the role of the Deputy Mayor. The motion, as amended, was carried.

Reports and Constitution Amendments:

• Code of Corporate Governance 2026-27: The Council approved the Code of Corporate Governance 2026-27 and adopted it for inclusion in the Constitution.
• Annual GARMS Report 2526: The Council noted and approved the annual report from the Governance, Audit, Risk, Management and Standards (GARMS) Committee, acknowledging the work carried out under the chairmanship of former Councillor Arjun Mitra.
• Constitution Amendments: The Council approved amendments to the constitution, including changes to the handling of deputations and petitions, and the reinstatement of area committees. Councillor Charli Thompson raised concerns about shifting power away from communities, while Councillor Peter Zinkin and Councillor Alison Moore welcomed the return of area committees. The motion was carried.
• Changes to Committee Meeting Dates and Membership: The Council noted and approved changes to committee meeting dates, appointments to outside bodies, committee membership changes, appointments to area committees, and non-Council appointments to the local pension board.
• Progress on the Youth Justice Plan: The Council noted and considered the content of the Youth Justice Plan 2025-2027 and acknowledged the progress made in 2025-2026. Councillor Charli Thompson highlighted the importance of prevention and challenged the administration to be more ambitious in lobbying for investment in schools. Councillor David Longstaff noted the strong performance across all indicators, including reduced first-time entrants to the youth justice system and a sustained 0% custody rate. Councillor Sara Conway echoed these successes, emphasising the service's high levels of satisfaction and engagement with children and families.

The meeting concluded with the Mayor's ceremony, where the retiring Mayor, Councillor Danny Rich, was thanked for his service, and the new Mayor, Councillor Zahra Beg, was invested with her chain of office. The ceremony also included the appointment of the Mayor's aide and chaplain, and tributes to the retiring Mayor and Mayoress.