The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss several key issues, including domestic abuse strategy, community safety, waste management, and the Capita contract. The committee agreed to recommend that ward councillors are included in appropriate meetings regarding safety concerns in their ward, with an emphasis on dialogue. They also requested clarification on wording in the household recycling and waste policies, and that pensions are specifically considered in decisions about the Capita contract.

Here's a more detailed look at the topics discussed:

Community Safety in Golders Green

Following a series of racially motivated attacks, the committee discussed community safety in Golders Green, with Chief Inspector Paul Condren of Barnet and Collindale Police outlining the measures being taken to reassure the community. These included increased police patrols and engagement with community security organisations like Shomrim and CST.

Councillor Dean Cohen raised concerns about not being contacted or included in meetings regarding the incidents, despite representing the ward. Councillor Sara Conway responded, acknowledging the importance of ward councillors being informed and reassured, and said she would ensure that Councillor Cohen and Councillor Peter Zinkin were kept in the loop.

The committee recommended that ward councillors be included in appropriate meetings regarding safety concerns in their ward, with an emphasis on dialogue.

Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy

The committee reviewed Barnet's refreshed Domestic Abuse and VAWG Strategy for 2025-2029. The strategy outlines a borough-wide commitment to preventing and responding to domestic abuse and VAWG, with four partnership objectives: prevention and early intervention; support for victims and survivors; accountability for perpetrators; and safer environments.

Councillor Sue Baker asked for examples of how stakeholders, particularly survivors, had shaped the strategy. Officers explained that conversations had been held with survivors using commissioned services and community organisations, and their comments had been used directly as quotes within the strategy.

The committee noted the report and recommended that the Cabinet look at it.

Safer Communities Partnership Board Annual Report 2024-25

The committee reviewed the Safer Communities Partnership Board Annual Report 2024-25, which included updates on community cohesion, the Community Safety Partnership Annual Dashboard 2024-25, and the Community Safety Team's Annual Report for 2024-25.

Councillor Dean Cohen raised concerns about hate crime, particularly antisemitism, and said the report needed to focus more on prevention and management of hate crime.

Councillor Nareferra asked about the group's feelings towards Prevent¹ and any strategies for dealing with the challenge of communities mistrusting it. An officer responded that they were aware that some communities saw Prevent as intrusive, but the data did not support this. They offered to deliver training to raise awareness of what Prevent is and how it safeguards vulnerable people.

The committee noted the report, with a recommendation to include the work undertaken on hate crime and Prevent in the appendix for the September meeting.

Household Recycling and Waste Policies

The committee considered updates to the Household Recycling and Waste Policies, including the introduction of a food waste collection service.

Councillor Dean Cohen raised concerns about the proposal for HMOs to have individual bins, saying it would be unsightly and suggested communal bins would be more appropriate. Officers responded that the policy sets out a baseline provision, and individual assessments would be made to determine the right solution for each property.

Councillor Kevin Hogarth asked for clarification on policy 7b regarding additional residual waste capacity, as the wording was unclear. The committee recommended that the wording of section 7b be reviewed and clarified if necessary.

The committee noted the report with the recommendation that the wording of section 7b be reviewed and clarified if necessary.

Capita Contract Review

The committee reviewed the Capita Contract Review, which provided an update on the continued transition planning and approach to manage the remaining contractual elements under the Customer Service Group (CSG) Capita contract.

Councillor Richard Cornelius raised concerns about the lack of mention of money in the report and asked for guidance on the costs involved in the changes. He also raised concerns about the council's expertise to handle all the procurement at once. Officers responded that indicative costing had been done in pre-market engagement, and the procurement team was being supplemented with external resources.

Councillor Cornelius also raised the question of increased pension costs if the council becomes more involved with joint services or contracted out services to other authorities. The committee recommended that pensions are specifically included when all decisions of what happens to the service are considered.

The committee noted the report with the recommendation that pensions are specifically included when all decisions of what happens to the service are considered.

Task and Finish Group Updates

The committee noted the updates on the Task and Finish Groups.

Cabinet Forward Plan

The committee reviewed the Cabinet Forward Plan and agreed that a briefing would be given to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the draft Sustainable Design and Development Guidance Supplementary Planning Document, rather than it being called in as an item.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee agreed to move the Parks and Open Space Strategy, Empty Homes in Barnet, and Temporary Accommodation items to the January meeting to allow more time to look at the waste management strategy at the next meeting.