We asked, you said, we did

Read more about this consultation.

We asked

We asked for your views on a proposed Borough wide Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) inviting you to tell us what you thought of the proposed prohibitions and your experiences of how you felt such an order would, or would not, benefit the community.

You said

We received 550 responses to the online questionnaire.

87% of respondents agreed with implementing a borough wide PSPO. 7% of respondents disagreed, 4% of respondents were neutral and 1% did not know or were unsure.

We did

Following the public consultation, the council authorised a three-year Borough Wide PSPO in December 2022 with 11 conditions.

This order is now being enforced by your local Police and Council authorised officers of the Community Safety Team.

For more information about the Barnet PSPO please use the link here: Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs).

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We asked

We asked for your views on a proposed Experimental Controlled Parking Zone (ECPZ) in the Golders Green Estate (Zone GG) which includes Quantock Gardens, Cotswold Gardens, Cleveland Gardens, Grampian Gardens, Cumbrian Gardens, Chiltern Gardens, Malvern Gardens, Cheviot Gardens, Purbeck Drive, Pennine Drive and Mendip Drive. The ECPZ proposals aim to address existing parking issues, including the impact on local businesses and services such as the GP and dental service on Pennine Drive, and prevent non-resident parking in the area.

You said

We wrote to 1075 residents and businesses inviting them to have their say on introducing a CPZ on their road, and what hours of restriction they would like to see. During our one-month consultation, 385 people visited the online consultation and we received a total of 108 responses (online, paper and telephone responses).

• Out of 108 responses, 69% (75 respondents) are in favour of introducing a CPZ on their road, whilst 31% (33 respondents) are against it.

Hours of operation

• Out of 82 responses to the question of what operation times the CPZ should have, 57% (47 respondents) said they wanted the operation times to be longer than four hours, whereas 43% (35 respondents) want the operation times to be four hours or shorter.

Days of operation

• Out of 39 responses to the question on when the CPZ should operate, 41% (16 respondents) think the CPZ should operate seven days a week (Monday to Sunday), whilst 43% (17 respondents) think it should operate from Monday to Friday, and 12% (five respondents) said it should be from Monday to Saturday. One person (4%) answered with their own proposed timings.

We did

The most common issues raised in the consultation included residents having their driveways blocked by other cars, abandoned vehicles on the road, commuter and commercial parking, and safety concerns due to narrow roads.

Based on the feedback, which members of the project team have carefully reviewed, we will be implementing an Experimental Controlled Parking Zone, which will be installed during August, and operational from early September 2025. In line with neighbouring zones recently implemented, (Zone BA: Clitterhouse Crescent, Clitterhouse Road and a section of Claremont Road), the parking controls will be operational from Monday to Sunday from 9am to 6pm. The controls are designed to address the concerns raised by residents, and the hours and days are a balance of the range of responses we received, including those who responded with ‘other’.

As part of the implementation plans, there will be ‘permit holders past this point’ entry signs at the beginning of the ECPZ area, instead of marked bays. This helps maximise as much space as possible for permit holders within an area. Disabled parking places will be provided in suitable locations, as well as pay by phone bays.

As this is an ECPZ, there will be a statutory consultation period for the first six months whilst it is operational, and you will have the opportunity to share your feedback on the controls during this period. After that, we will review the impact of the measures and use this feedback to help determine the future of the scheme.

Please note that there is no action needed from you now and we will write to you in August about how to apply for a parking permit. If you would like to see the permit costs, click here.

You can read our FAQs, as well as more information about the consultation responses and how we are managing parking in the area by visiting our website Transformingbx.co.uk/cpz

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We asked

We asked for your views on a proposed Experimental Controlled Parking Zone (ECPZ) on Claremont Road, Whitefield Avenue, Marble Drive, Prayle Grove, Amber Grove and Wallcote Avenue (Zone BB). The ECPZ proposals aim to address existing parking issues and prevent non-resident parking in the area.

You said

We wrote to 756 residents and businesses inviting them to have their say on introducing a CPZ on their road, and what hours of restriction they would like to see. During our one-month consultation, 163 people visited the online consultation and we received a total of 28 responses (online, paper and telephone responses).

• Out of 28 responses, 71% (20 respondents) are in favour of introducing a CPZ on their road, whilst 25% (seven respondents) are against it. One respondent (4%) who said no to a CPZ said they would support the proposal if neighbouring streets were included in a CPZ.

Hours of operation

• Out of 22 responses to the question of what operation times the CPZ should have, 86% (19 respondents) said they wanted the operation times to be longer than four hours, whereas 14% (three respondents) want the operation times to be shorter than four hours.

Days of operation

• Out of 22 responses to the question of when the CPZ should operate, 73% (16 respondents) said they would want the scheme to operate seven days a week (Monday to Sunday), four would prefer Monday to Saturday, and two would prefer Monday to Friday.

We did

The most common issues raised in this consultation were unauthorised parking on roads, residents having their driveways blocked by other cars, and the lack of parking controls.

Based on the feedback, which members of the project team have carefully reviewed, we will be implementing an Experimental Controlled Parking Zone, which will be installed during August, and operational from early September 2025. In line with neighbouring zones recently implemented, (Zone BA: Clitterhouse Crescent, Clitterhouse Road and a section of Claremont Road), the parking controls will be operational from Monday to Sunday from 9am to 6pm. The controls are designed to address the concerns raised by residents, and the hours and days are a balance of the range of responses we received, including those who responded with ‘other’.

As part of the implementation plans, there will be ‘permit holders past this point’ entry signs at the beginning of the ECPZ area, instead of marked bays. This helps maximise as much space as possible for permit holders within an area. Disabled parking places will be provided in suitable locations, as well as pay by phone bays.

As this is an ECPZ, there will be a statutory consultation period for the first six months whilst it is operational, and you will have the opportunity to share your feedback on the controls during this period. After that, we will review the impact of the measures and use this feedback to help determine the future of the scheme.

Please note that there is no action needed from you now and we will write to you in August about how to apply for a parking permit. If you would like to see the permit costs, click here.

You can read our FAQs, as well as more information about the consultation responses and how we are managing parking in the area by visiting our website Transformingbx.co.uk/cpz

Read more about this consultation.

We asked

We asked for your views on proposals to:

• discontinue the Mobile Library Service.
• cease purchasing hard-copy newspapers on a permanent basis.
• reduce slightly the self-service opening hours at the four Core Plus libraries (Chipping Barnet, Colindale, Edgware and Finchley Church End).
• investigate increasing the number of staffed opening hours in the future.

You said

We received 525 responses to the online consultation and 373 responses from the representative Barnet Citizens’ Panel.

Proposal to discontinue the Mobile Library Service

• 70% of Citizens’ Panel respondents and 60% of open-consultation respondents supported the proposal to discontinue the Mobile Library Service but retain the 14 libraries and the Home Library Service.
• 15% of Citizens’ Panel respondents and 24% of open consultation respondents opposed the proposal to discontinue the Mobile Library Service.

Proposal to cease purchasing hard-copy newspapers

• 71% of Citizens’ Panel respondents and 58% of open consultation respondents supported the proposal to permanently remove hard-copy newspapers from Barnet’s libraries.
• 17% of Citizens’ Panel respondents and 26% of open consultation respondents opposed the proposal.

Proposal to rduce the self-service opening Hours at Chipping Barnet, Colindale, Edgware and Finchley Church End Libraries

• 79% of Citizens’ Panel respondents and 61% of open consultation respondents supported the proposal to reduce self-service hours at Core Plus Libraries.
• 12% of Citizens’ Panel respondents and 21% of open consultation respondents opposed the proposed change in opening hours.

Support for Additional Proposals

• The ambition to increase staffed hours was supported by 76% of Citizens’ Panel respondents and 75% of open consultation respondents.

You can read more detail in the full consultation report.

We did

Cabinet approved all four proposals at their meeting on 19 May 2025

From the week commencing 2 June 2025, opening hours at Chipping Barnet, Colindale, Edgware and Finchley Church End Libraries were amended to 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm on Saturday and 10am – 5pm on Sundays.

The Mobile Library will be decommissioned on Friday 25 July 2025. Information will be provided to residents about alternative library sites and for those wishing to transfer to the Home Library Service.

Library managers will investigate options to increase the number of staffed opening hours in static libraries in the future.

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We asked…

We asked your views on our proposals to introduce a number of new road safety measures that will reduce the speed of vehicles and also aim to address concerns raised by residents in Friern Barnet Lane and the surrounding area.

Amongst the measures proposed included a proposed 20 MPH zone, the introduction of new crossings, the upgrade of existing crossings, and the redesign of the Friern Barnet Lane with Goldsmith Road junction.

You said…

We received 113 responses from approximately 1382 properties, which equates to an overall response rate of 8.17%.

Circa two thirds of respondents (60%) agreed that our proposals will improve road safety in the area.

Further feedback included:

• 67% of respondents supported us upgrading the existing pedestrian crossings along Friern Barnet Lane, between the junctions with St James Avenue and Friern Barnet Road
• 65% of respondents supported the proposed new uncontrolled crossing with a central refuge island on Friern Barnet Lane at the junction of Manor Drive
• 81% of respondents supported upgrading the existing zebra crossing on Friary Park
• 61% of respondents supported the proposed redesign of the Friern Barnet Lane junction with Goldsmith Road.
• 69% of respondents supported our proposal to introduce a 20 MPH speed limit in the area.
• 66% of respondents supported the introduction of new double yellow lines.
• 31% of respondents supported the reconfiguration of the parking layout to improve road safety.

We did…

Based on the results of the consultation, and taking into account all the comments received from residents, we are recommending introducing proposed measures with the following amendments:

• Remove the proposal to introduce speed cushions within the existing 20-mph zone.
• Consider the possibility to incorporate additional no waiting and parking restrictions on critical locations (such as the bend between Goldsmith Road and Stanford Road).

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We asked

We asked for your views on the introduction of a number of new road safety measures to address rat-running behaviour and improve road safter on Allington Road and the surrounding area.

Amongst the measures proposed included:

• a proposed one-way system on Allington Road, Crespigny Road, Elliot Road, Foscote Road, Park Road and Sevington Road
• the closure of Elliot Road
• introduction of speed cushions on Allington Road, Crespigny Road, Foscote Road and Sevington Road
• changes at junctions of Foscote Road, Sevington Road and Vivian Avenue.
• uncontrolled pedestrian crossing at various locations and changes on current waiting restrictions in the area.

You said

We received 180 responses from approximately 2448 properties, which equates to an overall response rate of 7.35%.

• 86% of respondents opposed to proposed one-way systems.
• 78% of respondents objected to the closure of Elliot Road
• 60% of respondents objected to the introduction of vertical deflection measures
• 55% of respondents opposed to changes at junctions

81% disagreed with statement that these proposals will improve road safter in the area.

We did

Based on the results of the consultation and comments received from residents in the area, Council officers are recommending to only proceed with the introduction of waiting restrictions (double yellow lines) as indicated on the original consultation drawings.

We will not currently be progressing the following proposed measures:

• Installation of the one-way system on Allington Road, Crespigny Road, Elliot Road, Foscote Road, Park Road and Sevington Road
• Closure of Elliot Road
• Introduction of speed cushions on Allington Road, Crespigny Road, Foscote Road and Sevington Road
• Reduction of kerb radii through kerb buildouts at various junction and uncontrolled crossing points.
  1. We will undertake further investigations into kerb alignment and crossing points on Vivian Avenue, at the junctions with Allington Road, Crespigny Road, Foscote Road and Sevington Road

Council officers have been mindful of the impact of the proposals on the community and all feedback and comments have been reviewed and helped us come to our decision.

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We asked

We asked you to help us update our Kinship Care policy and contribute to the design and delivery of our services to carers.

You said

We issued a questionnaire for kinship carers and one for kinship children. A total of 25 carer questionnaires and 5 children and young people questionnaires were completed. We also invited seven carers (special guardians) to conversations lasting between 1 and 1.5 hours. In these conversations we talked about:

• Assessments
• Family group decision making
• The financial assessment and annual review
• The different types of support we offer carers

Carers told us:

• the assessment is a very difficult experience to go through at a difficult time for families. Carers noted that having:
  1. clear, consistent and timely communication throughout the process.
  2. a good understanding of the process and of the reality of becoming a carer.
  3. peer support provided early.

was key to help make the assessment experience easier.

• during assessment it was helpful to experience ‘good practice’ from practitioners: meaning the experience of interacting with not judgmental, patient practitioners; those making an effort to understand the carer and convey respect for their views -i.e. “double checking [with carer] what goes in a report.”
• About their financial worries, the difficulties in navigating the benefit system and the impact of the cost of living crisis. Some felt very strongly that it was unfair to means test the financial allowance special guardians receive, others spoke of the burden of the yearly financial review.
• When talking about engaging wider-family resources for the benefit of the child via family group decision making, many carers fully welcomed this, yet others worried that it would impose a ‘burden’ on family members who could not be reasonably expected to help.
• Barnet should play a role in bringing families together to make alternative arrangements to care for the child/ren in case the carer becomes unwell.
• The support most highly valued by carers was having ongoing light-touch contact, communication and guidance once they became carers, the provision of information and advice, having an allocated practitioner and therapeutic support.

We did

• We wrote the new ‘Barnet Kinship Care Offer’ to address carers’ ask for clear information. The Offer:
  1. has a new and expanded focus on the assessment process (pgs. 6-12) to reflect this feedback and aims to be a practical guide for carers at the time of assessment.
  2. details support offered to the different types of kinship carer on general support by practitioners, training, advice and peer groups; family group decision making; legal support, financial support, education, support to stay in work, therapeutic support, advocacy, accommodation, supporting family time.

• We did away with the means test for financial support.
• We will offer family group decision making (such as via Family Group Conferences) to consult family networks early and often.
• We commit to undertake assessments of prospective carers:
  1. focusing on the child and on their views;
  2. with an open mind, curiosity and a desire to know and understand you;
  3. in a spirit of partnership with you and your family.
  4. Setting out in our report your views and feelings as you tell us.
  5. Including the views of others close to you such as immediate family, friends and agencies.
• We will:
  1. design and develop a peer support system for Special Guardians to be able to draw on the support of other carers with lived experience from as early as possible during the process of becoming a kinship carer.
  2. review our safeguarding processes and practices in relation to kinship care to address internal and external communications and of how well integrated kinship care practice is in the safeguarding system to ensure an improved experience for kinship carers.

• In addition to the contact and support provided to special guardians via at least three visits during the first year of the legal order being established, we will ensure that support continues with yearly ‘staying in touch’ meetings. This will be to provide ‘light-touch’ contact for carers and children and to reassure the Council of their ongoing wellbeing.

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We asked

We asked for your views on proposals to include 26 parking spaces created by converting the former garages in South Mead/Corner Mead into the Colindale CPZ (Zone CL2).

The proposals were part of an agreed Barnet Homes and The Barnet Group planning permission relating to Little Strand to convert some of their land into parking areas to provide the area residents with more parking options.

The Barnet Group gave consent to Barnet’s Highways service to formalise the parking spaces by including them in Colindale CPZ (Zone CL2) to enable enforcement.

The experimental scheme became operational on 22 July 2024, with the first 6 months of the scheme's operation constituting the statutory consultation period

In addition, we installed double yellow lines at the entrances to the parking area and other locations on the site to maintain access and provide sightlines.

You said

We wrote to 20 properties inviting them to take part in the statutory consultation and received 4 responses. Issues and objections raised included:

• Insufficient parking provision on the estate
• that parking controls should operate at weekends to prevent non-residents from parking on the estate outside the controlled parking hours
• that parking should be protected or guaranteed for residents
• increased traffic at school peak times
• that the area is well served by public transport with a suggestion

It was also suggested that we should improve public transport and a request for the introduction of measures that could reduce the need for car use.

We did

Having reviewed all feedback and monitored traffic and parking availability during the consultation period, we have decided to make the experimental extension to the Colindale CPZ Zone (CL2) permanent.

The increase in parking availability during the trial period met the parking requirements of the area’s residents and their visitors, and therefore the experimental extension has helped in resolving issues that were present prior to changes.

We will write to residents informing them of our decision to make the scheme permanent. Restrictions imposed during the experimental period will remain in place until the CPZ is made permanent.

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We asked

We asked residents for their views on the refresh of the Fit and Active Barnet (FAB) Strategy which aims to guide the achievement of a more active and healthier borough through increased participation in physical activity (including leisure and sport) opportunities. Through a collaborative approach we are committed to achieve ensure that all residents can live more active and healthier lifestyle.

You said

We invited around 43 local residents to take part in engagement sessions, working with different partner organisations to hear their thoughts before finalising the strategy. We made sure to include people of different ages, religions, genders, income levels, abilities, and ethnic backgrounds. Our aim was to better understand the perception and approach that Barnet residents have regarding Physical Activity and in particular:

1. What being physically active mean for them
2. What are the barriers that stop them from being active?
3. What can be done to reduce the obstacles?
4. How do they get their information about sport and fitness opportunity
5. The responses to the above questions were varied but the top four barriers to participation were:
6. Lack of motivation
7. Health
8. Financial
9. Not aware of where to find out about opportunities

We did

Feedback and suggestions gathered have been incorporated into the development of the FAB Strategy which commits us to:

1. Ensure that the FAB Hub continues to provide a ‘one stop’ resource for all things sport, physical activity, leisure and wellbeing for residents and health professionals.
2. Continue to deliver a commitment to a Dementia Friendly Barnet and the Barnet Charter for Mental Health.
3. To continue to build on the success of targeted FAB communication campaigns, encouraging more residents to Get Active and Give it a Go
4. To promote existing physical activity interventions and explore opportunities for the creation of new free or low-cost interventions, particularly targeted amongst the borough’s lower participation groups/communities

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We asked

We asked for your views on our proposed Meads and Lyndhurst Park Flood Alleviation Scheme.

The proposed scheme aims to:

• reduce flood risk to properties within the Silk Stream catchment by increasing the storage of water within the open space
• create new habitats for wildlife
• deliver biodiversity, environmental and amenity enhancements to the park and its users.

You said

We wrote to 1409 residents and businesses inviting them to have their say on our proposals. We received 6 responses

50% of respondents strongly supported our proposals, with no one strongly opposing them.

21 residents also attended a Community Engagement event hosted by our Action for Silk Stream partner, Thames21. Residents shared their:

• Suggestions on the placement of our proposed detention basins / Wetlands
• Concerns around fly tipping
• Views on re-introducing a play area
• Suggestions on the trees, plants and other vegetation that we should introduce

We did

We have considered all the feedback received and final designs are now being developed ahead of progressing with a tender process for construction. The scheme is expected to go out to tender in Autumn 2025.