Council & Politics
Barnet Council decisions, planning committees, councillors and local democracy.
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Barnet Council records 11 complaints on cosmetic procedures
The borough ranks third in London for non-surgical cosmetic treatment complaints between January 2021 and May 2026.
Barnet Council Faces Social Care and Housing Pressures
Barnet Council starts Burnt Oak flood defence work
Enfield Send services rated highest possible by inspectors
West Hendon Playing Fields upgrades include new courts
Burnt Oak brook reshaping to improve flood defences
Flood‑alleviation work starts at Lyndhurst Park and The Meads, reducing risk for Burnt Oak residents
Council & PoliticsBarnet flats keep pumping sewage into rivers as mayor funds pilot
Barnet Council Considers 5% Tax Hike, Fortnightly Bin Collections
Chipping Barnet Foodbank Calls for Realistic Universal Credit Rates
Finchley councillor questions PM job description
A local politician reflects on the lack of formal criteria for selecting national leaders.
Borough Local Intelligence
Targeted reporting across Barnet and its neighbourhoods
More from Council & Politics
- Council & Politics · Chipping Barnet
Dame Theresa Villiers to leave Parliament for UCL academic role
Dame Theresa Villiers, the former Conservative MP for Chipping Barnet, has announced she will not stand at the next general election. She plans to focus on an academic career, undertaking postgraduate research at University College London.
Chipping Barnet3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 61 · Hype 20 - Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet Teacher Banned Indefinitely for Crystal Meth Use
A primary school teacher from Barnet has been banned from the profession indefinitely after admitting to using crystal meth. Charles Miles, 64, who taught at Dwight School, was dismissed following evidence presented to a Teaching Regulation Agency panel.
Barnet2 min readTrust 50 · Craft 60 · Hype 45 
Council & Politics · Chipping BarnetVilliers rules out Chipping Barnet election comeback
Dame Theresa Villiers has announced she will not stand as the Conservative candidate for Chipping Barnet at the next general election. The former MP, who lost the seat in 2024, will instead pursue writing and an academic career at UCL.
Chipping Barnet3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 61 · Hype 20- Council & Politics · Golders Green
Barnet councillor condemns ex-neo-Nazi's Tory advisory role
Barnet Green councillor Charli Thompson has labelled Kemi Badenoch's support for Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi with antisemitic convictions, as 'indefensible'. Bonehill-Paine was selected as a Conservative candidate before withdrawing. Barnet council leader Barry Rawlings has also written to his Conservative counterpart criticising the decision.
Golders Green3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 65 · Hype 20 - Council & Politics · Colindale
Four new heritage lampposts installed in Colindale
Four new lamppost sculptures, known as Waylamps, have been installed along the 125 bus route between Colindale and North Finchley. Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and supported by the Mayor of London's borough of culture programme, the installations aim to help residents and visitors discover Barnet's heritage.
Colindale3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 95 · Hype 30 - Council & Politics · Chipping Barnet
Chipping Barnet set for Conservative gain, poll suggests
Chipping Barnet is among the London constituencies projected to switch from Labour to Conservative at the next general election, according to a new poll. The survey also suggests Finchley and Golders Green could see a similar shift.
Chipping Barnet2 min readTrust 74 · Craft 87 · Hype 28 - Council & Politics · Barnet
Dollis Valley Estate Regeneration Deal Collapses, £58.85m Grant Lost
A regeneration deal for Barnet's Dollis Valley Estate has collapsed, resulting in the loss of a £58.85 million Greater London Authority grant. Barnet Council now faces significant demolition costs and uncertainty over the future of condemned blocks.
Barnet5 min readTrust 60 · Craft 75 · Hype 30 - Council & Politics · Barnet
Grenfell-linked director appointed at Barnet Group
Laura Johnson, who was director of housing at Kensington and Chelsea Council during the Grenfell Tower fire, has been appointed group director of development and property at The Barnet Group. The role was advertised with a salary up to £157,078. Barnet Council stated the appointment was made on merit.
Barnet3 min readTrust 70 · Craft 75 · Hype 45 - Council & Politics · Golders Green
Khan pledges £875k to fight extremism amid hate crime rise
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced an additional £875,000 to combat extremism, citing a significant increase in antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate crimes. The funding will support grassroots initiatives and preventative programmes across the city.
Golders Green3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 65 · Hype 45 - Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet faces higher housing targets, Green Belt development
Barnet is set to face the highest housing target in London under the draft London Plan, requiring 32,730 new homes between 2028 and 2038. The plan also designates parts of Mill Hill and Chipping Barnet as growth locations and mandates 7,000 homes on Green Belt land.
Barnet4 min readTrust 40 · Craft 60 · Hype 60 - Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet Council faces £113.5m deficit by 2028, second largest in England
Barnet Council is projected to have a £113.5m budget deficit by 2027/28, the second largest in England. The authority received £55.7m in exceptional financial support for 2025/26 and plans £9.42m in savings for next year, while residents face a £77 increase in band D council tax.
Barnet5 min readTrust 50 · Craft 55 · Hype 35 - Council & Politics · Barnet
CIPFA review finds Barnet Council’s strategy fails to deliver for residents
An independent review by CIPFA has found Barnet Council’s financial problems stem from a failure to turn strategies into action. The report highlights late agenda papers, weak scrutiny, and a cautious culture delaying decisions, while warning of risks in the capital programme and joint ventures.
Barnet5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 70 - Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet Council sets 2029 deadline to close £200m budget gap
Barnet Council aims to eliminate its £200 million structural deficit by March 2029, with a financial plan due at cabinet on 12 October. A CIPFA report recommends increasing council tax and reducing bin collections, while the council warns national policy changes are needed to address growing demand for statutory services.
Barnet5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 72 · Hype 50 
Council & Politics · High BarnetBarnet faces new planning rules forcing homes near Tube stations
Barnet Council will be required to adopt a 'default yes' approach to housing schemes near Tube and rail stations under new government planning rules. The policy, announced by Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, aims to boost homebuilding but has drawn criticism from councils over green belt development and local objections.
High Barnet4 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 35
Council & Politics · High BarnetHigh Barnet air pollution halves since 2013 as ULEZ and EV points expand
Barnet Council’s latest air-quality readings show nitrogen dioxide on High Street has dropped by half since 2013. The 2023 ULEZ expansion and a network of 2,045 electric-vehicle charge points are credited. A Sunday play street launched on Calvert Road in April 2025.
High Barnet4 min readTrust 52 · Craft 62 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · FinchleyBarnet Council extends Finchley charity contract for £586,000
Barnet Council has extended its contract with Barnet Mencap, a Finchley-based charity supporting people with learning disabilities and autism. The £586,000 deal runs from September 2026 to August 2028 and aims to reduce demand for adult social care services.
Finchley4 min readTrust 56 · Craft 87 · Hype 12- Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet Council extends Solace Women’s Aid contract after Met failings exposed
Barnet Council has extended its contract with Solace Women’s Aid until March 2030, costing £210,000 per year. The decision follows criticism of the Metropolitan Police’s handling of double murderer Simon Levy, who killed two women while on bail for earlier offences.
Barnet5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 32 - Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet faces 7,000 Green Belt homes under Mayor’s London Plan
Barnet Council has formally objected to the Mayor of London’s draft plan that proposes 7,000 new homes on the borough’s Green Belt. The consultation closes on 15 October 2026, with at least half of all new homes required to be affordable.
Barnet5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 35 - Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet Group workers vote 100% for strike ballot over unequal pay terms
Over 1,000 Barnet Group employees, including housing and social care staff, have voted unanimously for strike action after their demands for equal pay, pensions and conditions with Barnet Council workers were rejected. Unison will proceed with an official ballot later this month.
Barnet5 min readTrust 50 · Craft 66 · Hype 35 - Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet depot workers owed £14,400 each in holiday pay ballot on strike
Barnet Council depot workers, owed an average of £14,400 each in unpaid holiday pay dating back to 2013, have rejected a six-month backpay offer. A strike ballot closes on 18 August 2026, with industrial action expected if the dispute remains unresolved. Council leader Barry Rawlings faced criticism after reportedly saying the money could only be recovered by taking it from disabled children.
Barnet6 min readTrust 56 · Craft 95 · Hype 55