Councillor Alex Prager
Email: cllr.a.prager@barnet.gov.uk
Council: Barnet
Council Profile: View on council website
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Positions, Voting Record & Activity Summary
Alex Prager's council service across multiple years reveals a consistent dedication to financial oversight, community development, and robust governance, with a notable increase in focus on these areas in recent years.
Key Themes and Priorities:
Across their tenure, Prager has consistently prioritized financial scrutiny and responsible budgeting. This is evident in their detailed questioning of borrowing paces, revenue budget implications, and the sustainability of financial strategies. They have also shown a strong commitment to community well-being, advocating for vital community assets and services. Furthermore, Prager has demonstrated a keen interest in effective governance and transparency, often seeking clarity on reporting accuracy, operational procedures, and the impact of council decisions on residents.
Evolution of Focus:
While Prager's engagement with financial and governance matters has been a constant, their activity in 2025 and 2024 indicates a deepening and more vocal engagement with these issues. In 2025, Prager's concerns about the council's borrowing pace escalated into detailed inquiries about its sustainability and impact on the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). This suggests a growing emphasis on long-term financial health. Similarly, in 2024, Prager's challenges to parking charge reports and inquiries into adult social care demonstrate a proactive approach to identifying potential financial and service delivery shortcomings.
Most Significant Contributions (Especially Recent Years):
In 2025, Prager's most significant contributions were their vocal advocacy for building upgrade applications for a registered charity, highlighting them as vital community assets
and necessary and humane
services. Their detailed questioning regarding the council's borrowing pace and its implications on the revenue budget and MTFS stands out as a critical contribution to financial oversight. Prager's inquiries, such as
and
I'd love to understand view from officers as to whether they believe the current pace of borrowing is sustainable
, underscore a deep dive into the council's financial health.
What are the implications on the revenue budget or the MTFS impact of all the borrowing because clearly I think it's generally accepted that capital borrowing is acceptable because it's clearly marked against projects that the borrowing is being carried out for You mentioned the 57 million top level but reading of the report implies that there's significant extra borrowing being forecasted so 79 million for the general fund 49 million for the HRA 34 million refinancing 56 million for capitalization direction I used the word spiraling earlier and I don't think it's a dramatic term so in your view what are the implications to the impact on the MTFS for the revenue budget as the borrowing continues
In 2024, Prager's challenge to the parking charges report, arguing it was misleading due to omitted costs and failing to account for bus fare increases, was a significant contribution to ensuring accurate public information. Their critical questions regarding adult social care and the affordability of Brent Cross also highlight a commitment to addressing complex service delivery and financial challenges.
In 2026, Prager's recorded activity was minimal, primarily consisting of membership on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in January and apologies for absence from a Council meeting later that month. This indicates a period of reduced direct engagement in the most recent documented period.
Patterns and Consistent Areas of Interest:
Prager consistently demonstrates an interest in scrutinizing financial reports and council spending. Their participation in the Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee across multiple years underscores this commitment. There is also a recurring theme of advocating for community-focused initiatives and ensuring that council decisions positively impact residents. Prager's approach is characterized by a desire for clarity, accuracy, and a thorough understanding of the implications of council policies and financial decisions.
Yearly Activity Timeline
In 2026, Alex Prager's recorded activity was limited to January, where they were a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on January 21st. No specific statements or actions were documented for this committee meeting. Alex Prager also had apologies for absence from the Council meeting on January 27th.
Monthly Activity in 2026
During January 2026, Alex Prager was a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on January 21st. No specific statements or actions were recorded for this meeting. Alex Prager was also noted as having apologies for absence from the Council meeting on January 27th.
Meetings in January 2026
Council - Tuesday 27th January, 2026 7.00 pm - 27 January 2026
Alex Prager was noted as having apologies for absence from the meeting.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday 21st January, 2026 7.00 pm - 21 January 2026
Alex Prager was a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the meeting on January 21st, 2026. No specific statements or actions by Alex Prager were recorded in the provided documents.
Throughout 2025, Alex Prager was an active participant in council meetings, demonstrating a strong focus on community development, financial oversight, and governance. Prager was a consistent member of the Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, attending meetings and contributing to discussions. A significant theme of Prager's activity was their vocal support for community-focused projects, particularly the building upgrade applications for a registered charity at 39 Alexandra Road. Prager argued these were vital community assets
and necessary and humane
services, expressing surprise at recommendations for refusal and emphasizing the lack of negative impact on neighbors. Financially, Prager raised substantial concerns in November regarding the council's borrowing pace, questioning its sustainability and its implications on the revenue budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). Prager specifically asked,
and
I'd love to understand view from officers as to whether they believe the current pace of borrowing is sustainable
. Prager also inquired about contingency plans for interest rate fluctuations and the council's treasury advisor. Beyond these key areas, Prager voted in favor of the Budget and Council Tax for 2025/26 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2025-30 in May. They also expressed a desire to resume site visits for firsthand observation and raised concerns about the consultation process for EV charger rollouts.
What are the implications on the revenue budget or the MTFS impact of all the borrowing because clearly I think it's generally accepted that capital borrowing is acceptable because it's clearly marked against projects that the borrowing is being carried out for You mentioned the 57 million top level but reading of the report implies that there's significant extra borrowing being forecasted so 79 million for the general fund 49 million for the HRA 34 million refinancing 56 million for capitalization direction I used the word spiraling earlier and I don't think it's a dramatic term so in your view what are the implications to the impact on the MTFS for the revenue budget as the borrowing continues
Monthly Activity in 2025
During December 2025, Alex Prager was present at the Extraordinary Council meeting on December 2nd but made no recorded statements or took any actions. Alex Prager also sent apologies for absence from the Budget Scrutiny, Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on December 11th.
Meetings in December 2025
Budget Scrutiny, Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday 11th December, 2025 7.00 pm - 11 December 2025
Alex Prager sent apologies for absence from the Budget Scrutiny, Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 2025-12-11.
Extraordinary Council, Council - Tuesday 2nd December, 2025 7.00 pm - 2 December 2025
Alex Prager was present at the Extraordinary Council meeting on Tuesday, 2nd December 2025. There is no record of Alex Prager making any statements or taking any actions during this meeting.
In November 2025, Alex Prager was a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee but was absent from the meeting on November 13th. However, Prager was actively involved in the Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) meeting on November 27th. During this meeting, Prager raised significant concerns regarding the council's borrowing pace, questioning its sustainability and its implications on the revenue budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). Prager specifically asked,
and
I'd love to understand view from officers as to whether they believe the current pace of borrowing is sustainable
. Prager also inquired about contingency plans for potential interest rate fluctuations, asking,
What are the implications on the revenue budget or the MTFS impact of all the borrowing because clearly I think it's generally accepted that capital borrowing is acceptable because it's clearly marked against projects that the borrowing is being carried out for You mentioned the 57 million top level but reading of the report implies that there's significant extra borrowing being forecasted so 79 million for the general fund 49 million for the HRA 34 million refinancing 56 million for capitalization direction I used the word spiraling earlier and I don't think it's a dramatic term so in your view what are the implications to the impact on the MTFS for the revenue budget as the borrowing continues
. Further questions were posed regarding the choice of MUFG as the primary treasury advisor and the reasons behind a significant decrease in the council's capital expenditure forecast for 2025-26. Additionally, Prager inquired about remaining risks in the council's IT and financial systems.
I did have one more question which I personally wouldn't say would introduce it as a stupid question but I actually haven't spoken to Councillor Zinken in advance of this meeting just to understand what the contingency is if there is one if interest rates don't fall to the levels that are forecasted
Meetings in November 2025
Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) - Thursday 27th November, 2025 7.00 pm - 27 November 2025
During the Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) meeting on 2025-11-27, Alex Prager, Councillor for Hendon, actively participated by asking several pertinent questions. In the Treasury Management Update (Item 11), Prager raised concerns about the sustainability of the council's current borrowing pace and its potential implications on the revenue budget and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). Prager specifically asked:
I'd love to understand view from officers as to whether they believe the current pace of borrowing is sustainable
What are the implications on the revenue budget or the MTFS impact of all the borrowing because clearly I think it's generally accepted that capital borrowing is acceptable because it's clearly marked against projects that the borrowing is being carried out for You mentioned the 57 million top level but reading of the report implies that there's significant extra borrowing being forecasted so 79 million for the general fund 49 million for the HRA 34 million refinancing 56 million for capitalization direction I used the word spiraling earlier and I don't think it's a dramatic term so in your view what are the implications to the impact on the MTFS for the revenue budget as the borrowing continues
Furthermore, Prager inquired about contingency plans should interest rates not fall as forecasted:
I did have one more question which I personally wouldn't say would introduce it as a stupid question but I actually haven't spoken to Councillor Zinken in advance of this meeting just to understand what the contingency is if there is one if interest rates don't fall to the levels that are forecasted
Prager also questioned the choice of MUFG as the primary treasury advisor, asking:
it's slightly off because I'm clear the decision was made before this meeting but is there a specific reason why our major advisor in this is a Japanese bank
Additionally, Prager sought clarification on a significant decrease in the council's capital expenditure forecast for 2025-26:
so just on page six it's the first sentence it just says the council's capital expenditure forecast for 2025 to 26 in relation to growing has decreased by 60% so I just wanted to understand what schemes were removed or deferred to make to achieve it to a drop of 60% because it's roughly 163 million pounds so I just want to understand if there's been any deferrals or schemes dropped in order to make that figure
In the External Audit Progress Report (Item 12), Prager asked about remaining risks in the council's IT and financial systems.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday 13th November, 2025 7.00 pm - 13 November 2025
Alex Prager was listed as a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. However, apologies for absence were noted for Alex Prager, and there is no record of them speaking or taking any action during the meeting. The only recorded comment attributed to Councillor Prager was regarding an addendum circulated at short notice, which the Chair explained arose from a callover meeting discussion and was a brief document, while thanking officers for the timely publication of other papers.
During the Council meeting on October 21st, 2025, Alex Prager was present and offered tributes to the victims of the Air India plane crash and the 7/7 attacks.
Meetings in October 2025
Council - Tuesday 21st October, 2025 7.00 pm - 21 October 2025
Alex Prager was present at the Council meeting and was invited to pay tribute to the victims of the Air India plane crash and the 7/7 attacks. Councillor Prager was one of the councillors who offered tributes.
During the September 11th, 2025 Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting, Alex Prager expressed a strong interest in resuming site visits within the borough. Prager emphasized the value of firsthand observation over relying solely on reports, stating,
They indicated a desire to participate in these visits again this year, having done so in the past but not recently.
While reports provide information, seeing things firsthand offers a valuable perspective.
Meetings in September 2025
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday 11th September, 2025 7.00 pm - 11 September 2025
Alex Prager expressed a desire to revisit site visits within the borough. They noted that while reports provide information, seeing things firsthand offers a valuable perspective. Prager indicated they had participated in such visits previously but not recently, and would like to do so again this year.
During July 2025, Councillor Alex Prager of Hendon, representing the Conservative party, actively engaged with council matters. In the July 8th meeting, Prager raised concerns about the rollout of EV chargers, questioning the adequacy of consultation with ward councillors and residents and seeking guidance on the best approach to the issue. Prager also served as a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny meeting on July 16th, though no specific statements or actions were attributed to them in the provided report.
Meetings in July 2025
Crime and Disorder Scrutiny, Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday 16th July, 2025 7.00 pm - 16 July 2025
Alex Prager is listed as a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny meeting on July 16th, 2025. No specific statements or actions were attributed to Councillor Prager in the provided report pack.
Council - Tuesday 8th July, 2025 7.00 pm - 8 July 2025
Councillor Alex Prager of Hendon, representing the Conservative party, addressed the council regarding the rollout of EV chargers. Prager questioned whether the Cabinet Member for the Environment was proceeding with the rollout without adequate consultation with ward councillors and residents, and asked for the best approach to this issue.
During the June 2025 Planning Committee meeting on the 9th, Councillor Alex Prager spoke in support of two applications (25/0111/FUL and 25/0110/FUL) for the rear of 39 Alexandra Road. He advocated for the applications, describing the proposed use as a community asset
and a necessary and humane
service for a voluntary charity preparing deceased bodies for burial. Councillor Prager emphasized the charity's long history of operation without reported issues and argued that the development fit the local area, citing a lack of neighbor objections. He also expressed concern about the communication regarding the re-hearing of the item. He specifically called in application 25/0111/FUL, believing the development was vital and that the height increase had no material effect on neighboring amenity.
Meetings in June 2025
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday 12th June, 2025 7.00 pm - 12 June 2025
Alex Prager was present as a Member at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on June 12, 2025. However, the available documents do not indicate that they spoke or took any specific actions during the meeting.
Planning Committee - Monday 9th June, 2025 7.00 pm - 9 June 2025
Councillor Alex Prager, Ward Councillor for Hendon, spoke in support of two applications for the rear of 39 Alexandra Road (applications 25/0111/FUL and 25/0110/FUL). He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to speak and for the committee's previous support for what he described as a community asset. Councillor Prager argued that the application fit the local area and that the lack of neighbour objections supported this view, despite officer concerns about harm to neighbouring amenities. He explained that the proposed use of the building was to support a voluntary charity that prepares deceased bodies for burial, a service he deemed necessary and humane. Councillor Prager also highlighted that the charity had been operating in various forms for decades, with no reported issues. He noted that he had been informed the item was returning but not that it would be re-heard from the beginning, which he felt was not adequately communicated. Regarding application 25/0111/FUL, Councillor Prager called it in because he believed the development was a vital community asset and that the height increase had no material effect on neighbouring amenity.
During May 2025, Councillor Alex Prager was active in two council meetings. On May 12th, at the Planning Committee, Prager spoke in strong support of two applications for a registered charity's building upgrade at 39 Alexandra Road. They expressed surprise at the recommendation for refusal, highlighting the charity's long-standing use of the building, lack of operational changes, and absence of neighbor objections. Prager argued that the development was not out of character
given nearby multi-storey buildings and that the Barnet Public Sector Equality Duty should be a positive consideration. They also suggested the charity could have drum up significant, significant support
if they anticipated refusal. Prager had previously called in one of the applications, stating it was a vital community asset
with no material effect on neighboring amenity. On May 20th, at the Annual Council meeting, Prager was present and voted in favor of the Budget and Council Tax for 2025/26, and the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2025-30.
Meetings in May 2025
Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) - Wednesday 21st May, 2025 7.00 pm - 21 May 2025
Alex Prager was present at the Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) meeting on May 21, 2025. The reports pack also indicates their presence at GARMS meetings on February 10, 2025, and January 29, 2025. However, there is no record of Councillor Prager speaking or taking any specific action during any of these meetings.
Annual Council - Tuesday 20th May, 2025 7.00 pm - 20 May 2025
Alex Prager was present at the Annual Council meeting on May 20th, 2025. They voted in favor of the Budget and Council Tax for 2025/26, as well as the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2025-30.
Planning Committee - Monday 12th May, 2025 7.00 pm - 12 May 2025
Councillor Alex Prager, Ward Councillor for Hendon, spoke in support of two applications (items 6 and 7) for a single-storey and a part single, part two-storey building at the rear of 39 Alexandra Road. He expressed surprise that the applications were recommended for refusal, stating that they were for a registered charity's own use to upgrade an existing building that had been in use for over 30 years. Prager emphasized that there were no proposed changes in operation and therefore no adverse impact on neighbouring amenities, noting the absence of any objections from neighbours during the consultation process. He argued that the Barnet Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) should be considered a positive material consideration. Prager also countered the description of the development as out of character
by referencing nearby multi-storey blocks of flats, some as high as 17 storeys, located within 60-80 meters of the site. He asked the committee to support both applications and engaged in a question-and-answer session to clarify details. Prager had previously called in application 25/0111/FUL, stating his reason as:
If officers are minded to refuse this application, I would like to call it in to the planning committee as the proposed development is a vital community asset and the increase in height at its extremities has no material effect on any neighbouring amenity.
He also suggested that if the charity had anticipated a refusal, they could have drum up significant, significant support.
Alex Prager had no recorded activity in the Budget Council meeting on March 4th, 2025.
Meetings in March 2025
Budget Council, Council - Tuesday 4th March, 2025 7.00 pm - 4 March 2025
There is no record of Alex Prager speaking or taking any action in the provided documents for the Budget Council meeting on 2025-03-04.
During the February 10th GARMS meeting, Alex Prager acknowledged the council's challenges due to staff and political changes, commending the team's progress. He reflected on the borrowing strategy, admitting in hindsight that externalizing borrowing when interest rates were low would have been preferable. > Um, and the answer obviously in hindsight is yes, because the two things happen together interest rate increasing and reserve decreasing at the same time.
He emphasized learning from the situation and adapting strategically to a changing world, particularly regarding unpredictable policy decisions by foreign leaders. > It's a changing world with, uh, policy being made by, you know, senior foreign leaders on the hoofs and, you know, how do we protect ourselves best?
He also seconded a thank you to Georgina and Mr. Langston for their service.
Meetings in February 2025
Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) - Monday 10th February, 2025 7.00 pm, NEW - 10 February 2025
Alex Prager acknowledged the difficult situation the council faces due to staff and political changes, giving credit to the team for moving in the right direction. He reflected on the borrowing strategy, stating that in hindsight, the council should have externalized borrowing when interest rates were low (around 2%) instead of relying on internal cash reserves. He admitted not being a financial expert but emphasized the importance of learning from the situation and strategically adapting to a changing world, particularly in light of unpredictable policy decisions by foreign leaders. He also seconded a thank you to Georgina and Mr. Langston for their service to Barnet.
Um, for this one, you know, obviously a difficult situation. Um, is there more we could be doing, you know, there's been a period of flux with not only staff changes, but also political changes as well. So, you know, credit to the team for, you know, moving in and what looks like the right direction for.
Um, it's a, it's a really, really good question just in terms of should we have externalized the borrowing at the time when interest rates were 2% versus using high cash reserves as internal borrowing. Um, and the answer obviously in hindsight is yes, because the two things happen together interest rate increasing and reserve decreasing at the same time.
Well, I'm, I'm very much not a financial expert, but you know, just in terms of taking a strategic view on it, whether we can take lessons from it. Um, you know, I don't think even Liz Truss or Liz Truss coming. So, you know, who knew that was going to happen? Um, maybe the letters did, but, um, yeah, and moving to the second point, you know, what more can we be doing as officers, as counsellors in order to support each other and moving towards a position where we're not having to, it's, it's a changing world with, uh, policy being made by, you know, senior foreign leaders on the hoofs and, you know, how do we protect ourselves best? It's probably the crux of the question. I think that was a rhetorical question for now.
During January 2025, Alex Prager was a listed member of the Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) for their meeting on January 29th. No specific statements or actions were recorded for Alex Prager in the provided documents for either the January 28th Council meeting or the January 29th GARMS meeting.
Meetings in January 2025
Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) - Wednesday 29th January, 2025 7.00 pm, NEW - 29 January 2025
Alex Prager was listed as a member of the Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee for the meeting held on 2025-01-29. No specific statements or actions by Alex Prager were recorded in the provided report pack.
Council - Tuesday 28th January, 2025 7.00 pm - 28 January 2025
There is no record of Alex Prager saying or doing anything in the provided documents for the Council meeting on 2025-01-28.
In 2024, Councillor Alex Prager was actively involved in various council committees, demonstrating a keen focus on financial scrutiny, service delivery, and strategic planning. Prager's contributions highlight a commitment to ensuring transparency and accuracy in council reporting, particularly concerning parking charges and active travel initiatives. Key activities included:
- Committee Appointments and Attendance: Prager was appointed to the Employment Sub Committee in May and regularly attended the Overview and Scrutiny Committee throughout the year, as well as the Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) in November and December.
- Financial Scrutiny and Reporting: A significant contribution in October involved challenging a report on parking charges, arguing it was misleading by omitting crucial costs and failing to account for upcoming bus fare increases. Prager emphasized that actual parking charges were considerably higher than presented, making bus fares appear
very reasonable.
Prager also notedexponentially higher
andabove inflationary
increases in other charges like visitor parking permits. - Service Delivery and Affordability Concerns: In November, Prager expressed satisfaction with risk reduction but raised concerns about the affordability of Brent Cross and the lack of a dedicated committee to manage its financial implications. Prager also posed critical questions regarding adult social care, focusing on increased difficulties for working-age adults with complex learning disabilities, long-term budget drivers, and the availability of care facilities for hospital discharge cases.
- Policy and Strategy Input: Prager criticized active travel approaches for
ignor[ing] any electric vehicle transport
and advocated for a more comprehensive view of transportation costs. - Operational Oversight: Prager sought clarification on data input inaccuracies in the uniform system, distinguishing between manual errors and technical issues.
- Procedural Contributions: In December, Prager seconded the proposal for Councillor Arjun Mittra to Chair the Budget Scrutiny, Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.
Monthly Activity in 2024
During December 2024, Alex Prager participated in two council meetings. On December 12th, Alex Prager was a member of the Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS). On the same day, at the Budget Scrutiny, Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting, Alex Prager seconded the proposal for Councillor Arjun Mittra to Chair the meeting.
Meetings in December 2024
Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) - Thursday 12th December, 2024 6.00 pm - 12 December 2024
Alex Prager was a member of the Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) for the meeting held on December 12th, 2024. No specific statements or actions by Alex Prager were recorded in the provided documents.
Budget Scrutiny, Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday 12th December, 2024 7.00 pm - 12 December 2024
Alex Prager seconded the proposal for Councillor Arjun Mittra to Chair the meeting.
During the November 27th, 2024, Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) meeting, Councillor Alex Prager expressed satisfaction with the reduction in open risks and praised the officers' efforts. A significant concern raised by Councillor Prager was the affordability of Brent Cross, noting the lack of a dedicated committee to handle such substantial financial issues following administrative changes, and requested an update on the project's status. Councillor Prager also posed three critical questions regarding the Adult Social Care Financial Sustainability Programme: the reasons behind increased difficulties in care packages for working-age adults with complex learning disabilities, potential council-wide strategies to address long-term budget drivers (such as planning laws, unhealthy food, and supported housing for an aging population with dementia), and the availability of sufficient care facilities for complex hospital discharge cases. Additionally, when reviewing internal audit findings, Councillor Prager sought to understand whether data input inaccuracies in the uniform system were due to manual errors or technical system problems.
Meetings in November 2024
Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) - Wednesday 27th November, 2024 7.00 pm - 27 November 2024
Councillor Alex Prager of Hendon was active in the Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee meeting on November 27th, 2024. Councillor Prager expressed satisfaction with the decrease in open risks in the quarterly report and commended the officers' work. They specifically highlighted the affordability of Brent Cross as a major concern, noting the absence of a dedicated committee to address such significant financial matters since administrative changes. Councillor Prager requested an update on the Brent Cross project's current status.
During the discussion on the Adult Social Care Financial Sustainability Programme, Councillor Prager posed three key questions: first, about the worsening of care package difficulties for working-age adults with complex learning disabilities and the reasons for a recent spike; second, regarding potential council-wide actions to address long-term budget drivers like planning laws and unhealthy food, and the provision of supported housing for an aging population with dementia; and third, concerning the availability of adequate care facilities to manage complex hospital discharge cases.
Finally, when reviewing the internal audit findings, Councillor Prager sought clarification on data input into the uniform system, inquiring whether inaccuracies stemmed from manual errors or technical system issues.
During the October 2024 council meetings, Councillor Alex Prager was active in the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on October 28th. Prager raised significant concerns regarding the accuracy and completeness of a report summarizing parking charges. Prager argued that the report was misleading by only presenting low parking costs and omitting other associated car journey expenses like purchase price, petrol, road tax, and insurance. Furthermore, Prager pointed out the omission of an impending 50% bus fare increase and highlighted that actual parking charges in Barnet were considerably higher than stated, citing specific examples of minimum and hourly rates. Prager suggested that these higher parking costs made the bus fare appear very reasonable
and requested the report be updated to reflect this. In discussions about active travel, Prager acknowledged its importance but criticized the current approach for being outdated
by ignor[ing] any electric vehicle transport.
Prager also noted that while overall street charging increased by 4.5%, specific items like visitor parking permits saw much larger increases of 88% and 94%. Prager concluded that these exponentially higher
and above inflationary
increases in other charges needed to be considered alongside the proposed consultation on parking charges.
Meetings in October 2024
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Monday 28th October, 2024 7.00 pm - 28 October 2024
Councillor Alex Prager of the Conservative Party, representing Hendon, raised concerns about the accuracy and completeness of the summary of parking charges presented on pages 59 and 60 of the report. Prager argued that the summary was misleading by only highlighting low parking costs and failing to account for the many other costs surrounding car journey
such as purchase price, petrol, road tax, and insurance. Prager also pointed out that the summary did not mention the impending 50% increase in bus fares by the Labour government and that the actual parking charges in Barnet were significantly higher than stated, citing a minimum charge of £1.56 outside the Town Hall, with hourly rates of £3.12 and £6.23 for two hours. Prager suggested that equating these higher parking costs with a £1.75 bus fare made the bus fare very reasonable
and requested that the misleading statement be updated.
In response to the discussion on active travel, Prager acknowledged its importance but stated that the current approach was a bit already a little bit outdated
as it ignor[ed] any electric vehicle transport.
Prager also highlighted that while the report mentioned a 4.5% increase on all street charging, specific items like visitor parking permits had seen much larger increases of 88% and 94%. Prager concluded that the proposed consultation on parking charges needed to be considered alongside these exponentially higher
increases in other charges, which were above inflationary.
Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) - Monday 7th October, 2024 7.00 pm - 7 October 2024
There is no record of Alex Prager speaking or taking any action during the Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee meeting on 2024-10-07.
During September 2024, Alex Prager's only recorded activity was sending apologies for absence from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on July 10th, 2024. No other actions or statements were noted for Alex Prager in the September 18th meeting.
Meetings in September 2024
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday 18th September, 2024 7.00 pm - 18 September 2024
Alex Prager sent apologies for absence from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 10 July 2024. No other activity was recorded for Alex Prager in the provided documents for the 18th September 2024 meeting.
During July 2024, Alex Prager attended the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on July 10th. No specific actions or statements were recorded for Alex Prager during this meeting.
Meetings in July 2024
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday 10th July, 2024 6.00 pm - 10 July 2024
Alex Prager was present as a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the meeting on July 10th, 2024. There is no record of Alex Prager speaking or taking any specific actions during this meeting.
Council - Tuesday 9th July, 2024 7.00 pm - 9 July 2024
Alex Prager was present at the Council meeting on July 9th, 2024. However, the minutes do not record them speaking or performing any specific action.
During June 2024, Alex Prager attended the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on June 4th. No specific statements or actions were recorded for Alex Prager during this meeting.
Meetings in June 2024
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 4th June, 2024 7.00 pm - 4 June 2024
Alex Prager was noted as a Member Present at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 4th June 2024. No specific statements or actions were recorded for Alex Prager during this meeting.
During May 2024, Councillor Alex Prager was appointed as a member of the Employment Sub Committee at the Annual Council meeting on May 21st.
Meetings in May 2024
Annual Council - Tuesday 21st May, 2024 7.00 pm - 21 May 2024
Councillor Alex Prager was appointed as a member of the Employment Sub Committee.
Activity Timeline
Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.
36 meetings · Page 5 of 8
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday 30th January, 2025 7.00 pm
The committee asked the Cabinet to consider the level of public concern about the Edgware growth area, including the lack of a definition of what a bus station is in the adopted Local Plan. The committee also asked the Cabinet to review a report on the Barnet Highway Network Task and Finish Group that recommends improvements to how roads in the borough are maintained.
Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) - Wednesday 29th January, 2025 7.00 pm, NEW
The committee noted the Quarterly Risks Report - Q3 202425 and the Grant Certification Report - GARMS Jan 25. The committee also noted the 202324 Interim Audit Findings Report and were assured by the new auditors that a disclaimed opinion would be issued for the 2023/24 accounts once the previous years were signed off by the previous auditors, and the issue relating to the legality of pre-payment of pension contributions was resolved. The committee then noted the Internal Audit Exception Recommendations Report and Q3 Progress Report 1 October 2024 to 31 December 2024 and the work programme, which was rearranged to accommodate the additional meeting in December 2024.
Council - Tuesday 28th January, 2025 7.00 pm
The Council of Barnet Council met on Tuesday 28 January 2025. The meeting started with tributes to Councillor Eva Greenspan, and former Councillors Usha Chopra and Joe Lee who had all sadly passed away. The council then adopted the [Joint Report of the Monitoring Officer and Chief Finance Officer (section 151 Officer)][Council cover report 28 January 2025], which detailed unlawful payments that had been made to, and from the Barnet Pension Fund. The Council delegated to the Pension Fund and Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committees the task of establishing the best way to rectify these unlawful payments, and delegated authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Chief Finance Officer, to put those steps into effect. The council also noted the appointment of Alexa, Alina, Zahra, and Shama from Copthall Girls School to speak about the 60th anniversary of the London Borough of Barnet.
Budget Scrutiny, Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday 12th December, 2024 7.00 pm
The committee considered a report on proposed changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme. It was noted that a separate public consultation was in progress, and the cabinet will consider the committee's views alongside the public consultation responses in February 2025. The committee recommended that the cabinet consider what other councils in London were doing. The committee also noted the Cabinet Forward Plan and considered a proposal to add the Open Door Homes acquisitions update to the plan for June 2025. There were no objections, so this was agreed. The committee noted the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme and agreed to move their meeting from 5 June to 12 June. They also agreed to consider the budget papers on 30 January to allow members to make comments ahead of the final budget being produced. Finally, the committee considered two reports on the council's budget: the Chief Finance Officer Report – 2024/25 Quarter 2 Financial Forecast and 2024/25 Budget Management and the Business Planning and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025-2030. These reports revealed a challenging financial position for the council, with an anticipated overspend of £25 million for 2024/25. The committee recommended that the cabinet consider how the budget consultation might be improved in future years, potentially by adopting a themed approach where each department could be scrutinized separately.
Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) - Thursday 12th December, 2024 6.00 pm
The Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) of Barnet Council met on Thursday 12 December 2024 and the most significant item on their agenda was a report on the External Audit of the council's accounts for the last three years.
Decisions from Meetings
2 decisions
Referral from Local Pension Board - Annual Report of the Local Pension Board 2023-2024
From: Council - Tuesday 15th October, 2024 7.00 pm - October 15, 2024
Recommendations Approved
Treasury Management Performance Update - Q1 2024/25
From: Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) - Monday 7th October, 2024 7.00 pm - October 07, 2024
...the recommendations regarding the Treasury Management Performance Update for Quarter 1 of 2024/25 and the updates on the strategic priorities identified by the Treasury team for 24/25 and beyond were approved.
Recommendations Approved
Summary
Meetings Attended: 36
Average per Month: 1.6
Decisions Recorded: 2