Councillor Arjun Mittra

Planning Committee - Wednesday 30th October, 2024 7.00 pm

The meeting considered six planning applications. Planning permission was granted for the demolition and rebuild of the Church Hall of St Mary the Virgin in High Barnet, and for the change of use of a house at 7 Northfield Road in East Barnet to a children's home. Planning permission was refused for the retention of an outbuilding at 78 King's Drive in Edgware, the alterations to and rendering of Fenton House in High Barnet, and the removal of an oak tree at Fairfield in Whetstone. Permission was granted for the removal of two false acacia trees at Fairfield in Whetstone and at 79 Oakleigh Park North in Whetstone.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Monday 28th October, 2024 7.00 pm

The meeting considered a proposal for the extension of three contracts with Capita and the proposed new Fees and Charges for 2025/26. The committee requested further information from officers on business and Council tax collection rates and asked that an informal group be set up to look at the future of the Capita contracts. The committee also requested that officers investigate the possibility of tapering the proposed charge for arranging care for people above the capital and savings threshold.

Council - Tuesday 15th October, 2024 7.00 pm

The meeting began with a series of speeches on the topic of Black History Month and then moved on to approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9 July 2024, note the contents of a number of reports, appoint new officers, and approve a new constitution for the council. Two motions were debated and voted on: a motion to celebrate the achievements of the Labour administration, which was carried, and a motion to regret the government's decision to means-test Winter Fuel Allowance, which was lost.

Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) - Monday 7th October, 2024 7.00 pm

The committee noted the Quarterly Risks Report (Q1 2024/25) and the Treasury Management Performance Update - Q1 2024/25. The committee also noted the 2023/24 - Corporate Complaints and Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) Annual Report and the report on Complaints About Councillors April 2023 - March 2024. They noted the Internal Audit Exception Recommendations Report and Q1 Progress Report 9th May 2024 to 30th June 2024 and discussed the progress of the 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23 external audits. They noted the 2023/24 external audit progress report and discussed their forward work programme.

East Area Committee - Monday 23rd September, 2024 7.00 pm

The East Area Committee approved funding for the Church Lane Community Garden. The Committee deferred decisions on funding applications for pavement renewal works at Hayes Crescent and the development of an inclusive playground at New Southgate Recreation Ground.