The Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to meet on 11 December 2025 at Hendon Town Hall. The agenda included discussion of the Medium Term Financial Strategy, Task and Finish Group updates, and the committee's work programme.

Medium Term Financial Strategy

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Business Planning 2026-2031 Medium Term Financial Strategy and 2025-26 Budget Management. A report to the Cabinet on 9 December 2025, was attached as an annex to the report pack. The report set out the financial challenges facing the council in developing the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2026-2031. It detailed proposals towards achieving a balanced budget for 2026/27, including savings and income generation, inflation and council tax assumptions, and funding for service pressures.

The report also noted that the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement (PLGFS) was expected the week commencing 15 December 2025, and that any changes resulting from the PLGFS impacting the council's budgets would be incorporated into the MTFS presented to the Cabinet in February 2026.

The committee was asked to consider the report and identify any areas they wished to scrutinise or refer to the Cabinet.

The Cabinet report included a summary of the financial challenges, noting that the council continued to face increasing demand for services such as social care and temporary accommodation. It stated that these pressures, coupled with rising costs driven by higher inflation and interest rates, meant that the council was unable to reach a balanced budget position for 2025/26 without Exceptional Financial Support from the government.

The Cabinet was asked to note that support was likely to be required from central government to set a balanced budget in 2026/27, and to agree to consult on the use of the council's flexibility to raise the level of general council tax by 2.98% in 2026/27, and to apply a 2.00% Social Care Precept.

The report also shared details of a breakdown of savings and income generation proposals (Appendix B), a breakdown of service pressures (in Appendix C), an overview of the demand-forecasting methodologies used to calculate pressures (Appendix D), and capital bids (Appendix E).

The report stated that the council was legally obliged to set a balanced budget each year, and that the MTFS set out the estimated overall financial position of the council over a period of time.

The report noted that modelling undertaken by London Councils showed that, under the original proposals, after transition, Barnet could lose nearly £9m of funding over the next 3 years (£400k next year).

The report also detailed the savings of £9.919m that departments had identified to help plug the gap for 2026/27.

Task and Finish Group Updates

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the progress of current Task and Finish Groups (TFGs). The report included a progress update, a narrative, and cabinet responses to the Primary Care (GP) Access, Allotment Governance and Management, and Food Security TFGs.

The TFGs active in 2024-25 were:

• Allotment Management and Governance
• Food Security
• Fostering
• Sustainable Travel

The TFGs active in 2025-26 were:

• Fast Food
• Flats above shops
• Emotionally Based School Avoidance
• Young Carers

The report noted that Councillor Alison Moore, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, would take on the role of Councillor Food Champion.

The Cabinet response to the Primary Care (GP) Access TFG included an updated response from the North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB) regarding concerns about the referral process and communication between primary and secondary care providers, specifically related to the Royal Free Hospital.

Cabinet Forward Plan

The committee was scheduled to consider the Cabinet Forward Plan (Key Decision Schedule) and identify any items they wished to request for pre-decision scrutiny during 2025-26.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme and make any necessary amendments.