Councillor Philip Cohen

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.

Cabinet - Thursday 5th December, 2024 7.00 pm

The Cabinet of Barnet Council met on 05 December 2024 and approved the publication of the Annual Equalities Report 2024. The Cabinet noted the significant budgetary pressures facing the council, agreeing to launch a public consultation on plans to raise Council Tax by 4.98%, to help balance the budget. The Cabinet also received an update on the Brent Cross development, including the approval of plans to extend the lease of the Next store in the retail park.

Adults and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Thursday 21st November, 2024 7.00 pm

This meeting of the Adults Health and Overview and Scrutiny Subcommittee was a themed meeting about Public Health. There were detailed discussions and a presentation on the Public Health Grant, the state of adult social care in the borough, the Barnet Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2023-24, and the Adult Social Care Annual Complaints Report. The committee also received a verbal update on the Discharge to Assess Task and Finish Group Report, and received a presentation and update on the Public Health Work Plan and the renewal of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The committee noted all of the reports it received.

Strategic Planning Committee - Wednesday 13th November, 2024 7.00 pm

The committee voted unanimously to grant planning permission to Astir Brent Cross West Limited for the demolition of the existing buildings at Unit 7, Staples Corner Retail Park and erect a 28 storey building in its place. The permission is subject to a Section 106 Agreement being completed within 3 months and several planning conditions being met, and will also be referred to the Mayor of London.

Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Monday 11th November, 2024 10.00 am

This meeting included an overview of winter planning across North Central London, as well as updates on the ongoing collaboration between the Whittington Health NHS Trust and the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and a finance update for NCL.