Chartered status – awarded by the Local Government Association – demonstrates the value placed on Councillors carrying out their important roles. It recognises Barnet’s clear commitment to strategically developing and supporting them, building their skills and knowledge through learning and development.

A Shared Lives Carer shares their home and family life with an adult who needs support to live everyday life - giving a helping hand to someone getting dressed, getting to doctors’ appointments, making friends, cooking together or even voting for their favourite singers on TV! People visiting or moving in with Shared Lives Carers may have been in foster care, have learning or physical disabilities, may be an older person with a frailty or dementia, or have mental ill health.

The council’s Gigabit Broadband programme will see Barnet Council working with a number of internet service providers to deliver faster services to as many homes as possible before the end of 2021. Commitment has now been secured for the 14,000 council-owned homes in Barnet to be connected to gigabit broadband networks by 2023.

Fly-tipping is a nationwide issue and cases have increased across the country in the last year compared to previous years. Barnet is also experiencing an increase.

Fly-tipping is illegal disposal of rubbish and includes leaving rubbish on the street, in public areas or in an alleyway. If it’s not put in a bin or taken to a disposal site but left for someone else to clear up, it is illegal.

The cost for a year of bin collections will be held at £70 for one bin and £50 for each additional bin. These are the same charges as last years’ service. Residents who sign up in time for the start of the service will receive around 23 fortnightly collections. 

The quickest and easiest way to sign up and pay is online at www.barnet.gov.uk/gardenwaste

Barnet Council’s plans for transforming rundown buildings on The Burroughs and Church End in Hendon, including provision of a new library, enhanced public spaces, and facilities for Middlesex University, have been put forward for review in a public consultation launched today (26 February).

The announcement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday (22 February) of the relaxation of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions comes at a time when reported cases and deaths from the virus have dropped significantly across Barnet and the rest of London. We should all be proud of the sacrifices that we have made during lockdown, which have no doubt saved many lives. I thank all of you who have done so much to keep others safe at this time.

Work on installing network starts this month (February 2021), with Barnet Council partnering with internet service provider Community Fibre to rollout the gigabit fibre pilot scheme. This will see installation of an alternative network to existing telephone lines, to serve Grahame Park with new faster, affordable, and more reliable internet connections.