We asked, you said, we did

We asked:

We asked you to share your views on an initial draft masterplan for West Hendon Playing Fields and Associated Community Facilities. This initial draft masterplan had been informed by the feedback received through the first phase of public engagement held in Summer 2018 where we had asked you what you would most like to see on the site. In this latest online engagement exercise, undertaken between 5 November to 2 December 2018, we asked you specifically for your views on the following:

· The facilities proposed within the initial draft masterplan

· The layout and location of the proposed facilities within the initial draft masterplan

· Any comments you may have on the overall initial draft masterplan.

You said:

We received 98 responses to the online engagement exercise. 86% of respondents said they were either supportive or very supportive of the initial draft masterplan and 8% said they were either unsupportive or very unsupportive. Of the proposed indoor facilities, the most popular were the café and multi-use activity space and of the proposed outdoor facilities, improved pedestrian and cycle routes, woodland nature trail, community garden, picnic areas, tennis courts and play areas all scored highly. Less well supported facilities included the skatepark, the artificial turf pitches and the high ropes course.

83% of respondents said they were either supportive or very supportive of the location and layout of the proposed facilities within the initial draft masterplan and 14% said they were either unsupportive or very unsupportive. Some people felt that the proximity of the proposed tennis courts, skatepark and high ropes course to areas of particular ecological interest was inappropriate.

A number of concerns were raised about the potential impact of the proposed developments on local ecology, specifically in relation to areas of the wider site which are designated as a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Local Nature Reserve (LNR). You expressed a desire to balance any development with the protection of the wildlife, flora and fauna on the wider site. You also said it was important to consider the impact upon parking and traffic movement as a result of new facilities.

We did:

The results of this further engagement were used to inform a review of the initial draft masterplan and to identify any required amendments. Taking account of the feedback received, a number of changes have been made in developing a final version of the draft masterplan. These include enlarging the proposed nursery provision within the Community Sports Hub and relocating the tennis courts and skatepark further away from the SSSI and LNR. In addition, a ‘softening’ of the proposed new car park on Cool Oak Lane through use of a natural surface finish and additional planting have been included in the final version of the draft masterplan.

The final draft masterplan will form the subject of a report to the meeting of the Council’s Environment Committee on 14 March 2019 seeking approval to undertake a full public consultation on the final draft masterplan.

We asked:

We asked you to share your views on an initial draft masterplan for Barnet Playing Fields and King George V Playing Fields. This initial draft masterplan had been informed by the feedback received through the first phase of public engagement held in Summer 2018 where we had asked you what you would most like to see on the site. In this latest online engagement exercise, undertaken between 5 November to 2 December 2018, we asked you specifically for your views on the following:

· The facilities proposed within the initial draft masterplan

· The layout and location of the proposed facilities within the initial draft masterplan

· Any comments you may have on the overall initial draft masterplan.

You said:

We received 296 responses to the online engagement exercise. 82% of respondents said they were either supportive or very supportive of the initial draft masterplan and 16% said they were either unsupportive or very unsupportive. Of the proposed indoor facilities, the most popular were the café and community rooms and of the proposed outdoor facilities, improved play areas, pedestrian and cycle routes, outdoor gym, Multi-Use Games Area and improved sports pitches all scored highly. Less well supported facilities included the skatepark and gaelic football pitches.

79% of respondents said they were either supportive or very supportive of the location and layout of the proposed facilities within the initial draft masterplan and 19% said they were either unsupportive or very unsupportive. Some people felt that the skatepark could be better located.

In addition, a number of suggestions were made about the site which have been taken into account such as the need for strong management of the site to ensure it is well-maintained and a need to consider the impact of traffic movement to the site and surrounding area. You also said it was important to protect the peaceful character of the site and local wildlife, trees and plants.

We did:

The results of this further engagement were used to inform a review of the initial draft masterplan and to identify any required amendments. Taking account of the feedback received, the skatepark has been relocated to an area closer to the main Community Sports Hub and further away from neighbouring residential properties and the Ark Academy. In addition, further planting and landscape enhancements to the site boundaries have been included in the final version of the draft masterplan.

The final draft masterplan will form the subject of a report to the meeting of the Council’s Environment Committee on 14 March 2019 seeking approval to undertake a full public consultation on the final draft masterplan.

We asked:

We asked families with children with disabilities and/ or special educational needs to give their views on the current Short Breaks offer and to tell us if they had experienced any barriers to taking up services. We asked families what they need from a future service to inform the future for service requirements; how Short Breaks are arranged in the future and to help plan market development activity.

We also asked Short Break providers questions regarding what they can offer and their capacity.

You Said

We received 207 responses:

· 82% of which were from parent carers. Respondents provided a wealth of information regarding their experiences of using short breaks and had a number of really helpful ideas about the types of services they would like to see in the future and when they would like to see them.

· 30% of families eligible for Short Breaks were unable to take up all of their allocation due to lack of provider capacity; services not able to meet specific needs or inflexibility with the current offer. Responses regarding allocations were mixed with some families wanting everyone to receive the same allocation and others wanting a higher allocation to those with higher needs.

· 89% of families wanted to see short break provision in school holidays, with weekends also being requested as well as after school clubs. While some families wanted the council to continue to arrange their breaks from pre-qualified providers, other families wanted the flexibility to receive funds to arrange their own services. There was a lot of interest in specialist overnight respite and in the potential for short break providers to cater to young people in transition to adulthood.

We Did

We reviewed and analysed all the responses submitted. You can read the full consultation report here.

The key themes from the survey were used to inform and shape the detail behind the future service model and applications process. The service model was also informed by three co-design meetings held with parent carers.

We held two market events with Short Breaks providers to pass on key findings from the survey to help shape the future market offer in accordance with need.

We have simplified the applications process based on the feedback received. From March 2019, families will only need to apply once to be eligible for Short Breaks.

Based on the survey response, we have revised the allocation offer for Short Breaks. The new allocation represents an increased offer for families and is more flexible to enable families to purchase the support that they want. We will ensure that those with higher needs continue to receive a higher allocation. The new offer for 2019-20 will be available on the Short Breaks Website from March 2019. https://www.barnet.gov.uk/citizen-home/children-young-people-and-families/children-and-young-people-with-disabilities/disabled-childrens-activities.html

For more information on this consultation please click on the following links:

Family Nurse Partnership

Health Visitor Services

School Nurse Services

We asked

We asked for your views about the health visiting, school nursing and family nurse partnership services especially about how you access them and what you found helpful or unhelpful about your contact with these services.

The questionnaire was open from November 2017 to February 2018 and was a combination of online and face to face questionnaire completion.

The survey provided information on 5 key areas:

• The level of engagement between service users and the health services currently available
• The quality of service that service users receive
• What stakeholders and service users feel the strengths and areas for development are
• What the key public health issues facing service users are
• Whether stakeholders understand the needs and experience of their service users.

You said

In total 450 questionnaires were completed by service users and stakeholders of the services.

Some of the key findings from the feedback were:

Health visiting

79% of respondents would describe their experience as ‘good or very good’ and 82% would recommend the health visiting service

65% of the respondents felt that they needed to repeat their story with each person that they see

70% feel that following support from these different organisations they feel that their families can thrive in future

Service users most value:

• Face to face contact
• Having specific questions answered
• Having their worries and concerns listened to

Family nurse partnership

97% of family nurse partnership respondents would recommend it to a friend

100% of respondents rated family nurse partnership as ‘good or very good’

School nursing

70% of respondents agreed that they were treated with respect, were given enough time to discuss their concerns and found the advice given helpful

The top three issues that young people contact a school nurse for

1. Healthy eating
2. Support with increasing physical activity
3. Advice on helping to stop accidents / injuries

The top three issues that parents / carers contact a school nurse for

1. Heathy eating
2. Emotional feelings
3. School absence due to illness

We did

As a result of the feedback received commissioners have negotiated with the provider, Central London Community Healthcare Trust, a new model to deliver the healthy child programme for children 0 – 19 from the health visiting and school nursing services. This includes some important changes to the service that will be delivered from April 2019.

Health visitors will be seeing all mothers during the antenatal period to assess their needs when they have their baby and provide advice about being new parents.

Health visiting teams will see parents when their baby is 6 – 8 weeks old to enquire about mother’s health and how the baby is being fed and is developing.

Health visiting teams will be providing, with the children centres, health promotion groups on topics like introducing solids; attachment with your baby; minor illnesses care and sleep management.

School nurses will be providing drop in’s in all secondary schools half termly for young people to seek a school nurses advice

School nurse teams will be delivering PSHE on topics relevant to the young people in the school

School nurse teams will be more available for helping young people with sexual health questions and providing emergency contraception if required.

Family nurse partnership will continue to deliver knowledge and skills training around teenage parenting

Family nurse partnership team have widened their criteria for referrals to include up to 24 years where appropriate.

You can read more information in the feedback here and the full report here.

For more information on this consultation please click here.

We asked

The Homelessness Reduction Act requires new duties on local authorities relating to homelessness. We asked for your views on the key findings from our review of homelessness in the borough. This consultation ran from 6th July 2018 to 29th July 2018.

You said

The survey received 102 responses, 29% from residents and 33% from organisations providing services to homeless clients. Generally, respondents agreed that the main reasons for homelessness in the borough were due to the loss of rented accommodation and family breakdown. In terms of the most effective support, 36% agreed that early support was right while 24% said it was help with finding alternative accommodation. The majority of the respondents also supported more collaborative working between agencies to establish clearer referral routes, as well as procuring more affordable housing. 73% of respondents thought support for rough sleepers should be improved, including outreach work alongside provision of more hostel and supported accommodation to help address housing and other needs.

We did

These views were reflected upon in the drafting of the homelessness and rough sleeping strategy. Collaborative working with agencies, procuring more affordable housing and helping rough sleepers address their housing and other needs are all priorities in the strategy. Additionally, the causes of homelessness and rough sleeping identified by respondents fed into the drafting of these priorities. The full draft strategy can be viewed here.

For more information on this consultation please click here.

We asked

Respondents were asked three questions around the implementation of a Local Lettings Policy (LLP) in Barnet. Firstly, around whether a LLP should give council tenants priority for new homes on in-fill developments on their estate. Secondly, around whether lettings homes through a LLP on in-fill development is a better way to meet local housing need and finally whether a LLP should only be made available to tenants in Band 1 and Band 2. This consultation ran from 16^th October to 8^th December 2017.

You said

A total of 86 responses were received to this survey - 25% from households in the private rented sector, 23% from households rented from the council, 23% owners with a mortgage, 20% owned outright and 5% living in housing association accommodation. 70% agreed that letting homes through a LLP was an effective way to meet housing need. Moreover, they also agreed with priority for council tenants on that estate, suggesting it was both fair and practical to do so. Finally, 67% agreed that a LLP should only be made available to tenants in Bands 1 and 2. Some respondents expressed concern over the exclusion of homes in lower priority bands.

We did

The outcome of this consultation supports the introduction of a LLP, as respondents agree that it is an effective way to meet housing need while also supporting limiting the LLP to priority Bands 1 and 2. As a result, the council’s Housing Allocation Scheme was updated to reflect this change.

For more information on this consultation please click here.

We Asked

There are currently more than 200 care leavers in Barnet, many of whom have experienced challenges in childhood and adolescents. We asked if you thought we should help these Care Leavers (up to the age of 25) by providing Council Tax Relief.

You Said

Residents were invited to complete an online questionnaire to give their views. 21 residents kindly completed the questionnaire with 90% agreeing Barnet Council should help Care Leavers by providing Council Tax Relief. Other feedback included the possibility of extending the support past the first two years and 79% felt the relief should be reduced to nil where a Care Leaver is jointly liable for Council Tax.

We Did

The results of this questionnaire, along with additional supporting evidence, were taken to a full meeting of the authority at Hendon Town Hall on 31 July 2018. We are pleased to say that this request was passed during this meeting and the policy is now in place. Thank you to everyone for taking time to give your views and enabling this to happen.

For more information on this consultation please click here

We asked

We asked for your views on transitions from children’s to adult health services, including the information you receive about transition and what matters to you in ensuring a good transition.

The questionnaire ran from the 3^rd August – 9^th September 2018 with an online questionnaire (anonymous responses) targeted to young people who were approaching or recently gone through transition and their parents/carers. In addition to the questionnaire, two focus group events were held with parents and a young person to discuss transitions, as well as a session at the Barnet Development Team Youth group with young people on information around transitions.

You said

20 responses were received to the questionnaire. Some of the key findings were:

· 50% of respondents strongly disagreed that they/ their child received adequate information about transition to adult health services

· 33% of respondents strongly disagreed that they were clear when they/their child would leave paediatric services

· 75% thought age 14-16 was the right time to receive information about transition

· The top two answers to where respondents would look for information about transitions were don’t know/not sure and their current paediatric healthcare professional.

· 69% rated having a professional who leads on transition who you can contact with any questions as one of the two most important factors.

Please read the full findings in this report.

We did

The responses will be used to inform ongoing actions relating to transitions in health services that are being discussed at a senior level in the Clinical Commissioning Group. These actions and recommendations include:

· Improving process for internal transitions tracking, with a group with representation from health, social care and education, both children’s and adult services to ensure best practice is adhered to in transition and resolve complex cases.

· Improving links between Paediatricians and GPs in transition and the role of GPs in transition, including work to increase uptake of annual health checks for people with learning disabilities over the age of 14.

· Embedding transitions into the commissioning cycle of new services, ensuring that providers have a transition policy and address transitions with young people receiving their service.

· The Local Offer and Preparing for Adulthood protocol are also being updated with more information about transitions. https://www.barnetlocaloffer.org.uk/

For more information please on this consultation please click here

We Asked

We asked you to comment on the possible options identified for Victoria Park, Finchley.

You Said

We received 1,077 responses to the Survey Monkey questionnaire, 11 responses to the Easy Read questionnaire and about 400 people in total attended the 8 pop up events in the park. The top three items that respondents would like to see the money spent on are: new playground facilities, new café and toilets, and resurfacing paths where tree roots have led to an uneven surface.

The results of the public consultation have been passed to Groundwork London (GWL), who will be using this information and the cost of the each potential change, to produce a final master plan for the site and a priority order for the work. A report will be prepared for the meeting of the Environment Committee on 28 November 2018, seeking agreement to the plan, and the order for the work as it is very unlikely that there will be sufficient money to do everything that has been identified.

For more information on this consultation please click here.

We asked:

We asked you to share your views on the future of West Hendon Playing Fields. Specifically, we asked what you would most like to see on site and provided a long list of potential development options designed to improve the provision of sports and community facilities.

The online engagement exercise was undertaken from 14th May to 3rd June 2018.

You said:

We received 219 responses to the online engagement exercise. The proposed long list of potential facility development options was welcomed by many of you. However, you said it was important to consider the impact of any development near to the Welsh Harp and local wildlife, flora and fauna.

In addition, a number of suggestions were made about the site which were taken into account such as the need for improved park maintenance and management, better connectivity to and throughout the Playing Fields site and a desire to improve and enhance the ecological interest of the wider site.

We did:

We reviewed all the responses submitted and the results were used to inform an Options Appraisal Report for the Council to consider.

Following the Council’s feedback on the options appraisal report, SLC will develop a draft Masterplan for the site based upon the preferred options.

The draft Masterplan will be used to engage further with local residents and stakeholders later this year. Feedback from this engagement together with further consultation with Barnet Council will inform the development of the final Masterplan scheduled for completion by later this year.