We asked, you said, we did

You can read more about this consultation here.

We asked

We asked your views on our Healthy Child Programme, which includes the health visiting, school nursing, healthy weight nursing, breastfeeding support, and oral health promotion services. The consultation included the completion of a combination of online and face-to-face questionnaires. We also consulted staff and stakeholders involved in delivering the service as part of this consultation.

We asked service users:

how much they have engaged with the services offered as part of the Healthy Child Programme

• about the quality of service that they received
• what they valued about the service and what they think the service should do to improve and develop
• what public health issues residents are concerned about
• whether staff and stakeholders understand the needs of service users or residents.

You said

Health Visitors

• we received 463 responses
• 80% of respondents said that the Health Visitor was one of their top sources of information and support when they had concerns about their family’s health, development and wellbeing
• 95% of respondents are ‘likely’ or ‘extremely likely’ to recommend the service to others
• fewer service users want face-to-face contact with the Health Visitor, and more are interested in virtual contact instead.

School Nurses

• we received 511 responses
• 72% of students and 85% of parents and carers would recommend the School Nurse service to family or friends
• the emotional wellbeing of students was highlighted as one of the most important issues for School Nurses
• While most parents, carers and students are aware of the School Nurse, some were not or were not aware of what the School Nurse could offer.

Healthy Weight Nurses

• we received 40 responses
• 86% of service users were ‘likely’ or ‘extremely likely’ to recommend the service.
• most parents and carers (76%) reported having concerns about their child’s weight
• there was a group of respondents who were unaware of the service and would like more information about how to access support.

Breastfeeding Support

• we received 73 responses
• the overwhelming majority (96%) of respondents required support to breastfeed their child
• 96% were also ‘likely’ or ‘extremely likely’ to recommend the service
• some contact with service users became virtual during the pandemic, but the majority of service users (57%) would prefer face-to-face contact when possible.

Oral Health Promotion

• we received 137 responses
• 58% of respondents are ‘likely’ or ‘extremely likely’ to recommend the service
• service users found the oral health promotion services to be informative and interactive
• practical advice about brushing and answering specific questions were most valued by service users.

We did

We have committed to taking the following actions:

Health Visitors

• make sure that the pathway to support for families is clear by increasing partnership working
• Harness technology to allow families to access information in a timely way.

School Nurse

• improve awareness of the School Nurse and the support that they can offer
• more presence in schools to ensure that the School Nurse is easily accessible (depending on the COVID – 19 restrictions).

Healthy Weight Nurses

• introduce accessible group activities for young people and families with a weight concern
• improve awareness of the service through greater partnership working.

Breastfeeding Support

• ensure service users receive clear information about how and when they can use the Breastfeeding Support service
• at home, face-to-face sessions when this is appropriate (dependent on the COVID – 19 restrictions)
• Breastfeeding Support services to be advertised earlier in pregnancy support classes/sessions.

Oral Health Promotion

• raise awareness of the service and the support on offer
• offer face-to-face sessions wherever possible, especially to very young children.

You can read more about this consultation here.

We asked

We asked for families, and all those who support children and young people with SEND, including those in receipt of an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and children and young people who receive support through SEN Support for their views on the vision, aims, and priorities for the next three years set out in the Draft SEND Strategy.

You said

We received 27 responses to the online questionnaire. You can read more about the results here.

We did

We made some changes to the draft strategy. You can read the final strategy here.

You can read more information about this consultation here.

We asked

We asked for your views on our draft Infant Feeding Strategy 2021 – 2025, which sets out the direction to support agencies and the public, to protect, promote, support, and normalise breastfeeding.

You said

We received 62 responses to the questionnaire:

• an average of 95% agree with each of the strategies aims
• 95% agree with the vision laid out in the strategy
• an average of 85% agree the actions for each strategy pillar will help raise local breastfeeding rates

There were also a number of comments made by residents completing the questionnaire, in relation to the strategy and action plan:

• provision of adequate staffing levels for population demand (eight respondents)
• ensuring equality of services across the borough (four respondents)
• support for all types of feeding - breast and bottle (four respondents
• consistent and up-to-date advice, including baby’s birth weight, by three weeks (three respondents)
• normalising the breastfeeding campaign – including mum’s rights to breastfeed and feeing beyond one year (three respondents)

We did

In response to the comments made, the strategy and action plan were amended to include the elements that respondents asked to be incorporated.

The strategy is currently being finalised and the final version will be available in summer 2022 – you will be able to view the final strategy on the council’s website, Barnet Online.

You can read more about this consultation here.

We asked

Following the outcome of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) statutory review, the new electoral arrangements for Barnet Council will come into effect at the Local Government elections on 5 May 2022. Barnet will continue to have 63 councillors but the number of wards is increasing from 21 to 24. There will be 15 three-councillor and 9 two-councillor wards. These changes to the warding arrangements in Barnet mean that all polling districts and polling places have to be reviewed.

As part of this review, Barnet’s Returning Officer (RO) proposed for new polling districts and polling places. We asked residents to comment on the Returning Officer’s proposals and suggestions for alternative venues and locations.

You said

We received a range of comments on the proposals from residents and councillors – you can view the representations received here.

We did

On behalf of the Returning Officers, we reviewed all representations and presented final polling district and polling place proposals to the Constitution and General Purposes Committee on 6 January and Full Council on 25 January for final approval. All 24 new warding arrangements were approved. To find out more information, please visit www.barnet.gov.uk/find-my-polling-station

You can read more about this consultation here.

We asked

We asked for your views on moving from Band B to Band A Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for parking contraventions.

You said

Feedback received included approximately 300 responses. Details of consultation responses is set out in the report to Environment Committee.

We did

The recommendations of the report to the Council’s Environment Committee were approved and an application to adopt Band A was submitted to London Councils’ October 2020 Transport and Environment Committee, where it was approved. The next step was for the Mayor of London to grant approval, which was given on 14 October 2021, (published here). On the issuing of the Mayor’s written notification to the Secretary of State for Transport a one month period began during which the Secretary could object to the proposals. This period elapsed with no objections being raised and Barnet is implementing Band A charges from 12 January 2022.

You can read more about this poll here.

We asked

We launched a poll inviting the community, businesses and those that work in Colindale to take part in renaming the square. The names were selected in honour of the first female RAF pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), and Colindale's close links with the RAF museum.

You said

The poll was open for four weeks and more than 300 people responded.

We did

Following the closing of the poll, the selected name went through a process of approval including a four-week consultation. Now approved, we are pleased to announce that the Square will now be officially named Patterson Square, after female RAF and ATA pilot Gabrielle Patterson. The Square also celebrates the contribution made by all female pilots.

Gabrielle Patterson was born 1905 and was Britain’s first female flying instructor. Gabrielle flew 30 different types of aircraft with the ATA, including the De Havilland Mosquito and Wellington bombers and left the ATA in March 1943. There are plans to officially name Patterson Square at an opening event in 2022.

You can read more about this consultation here.

We asked

We asked for your views on the Draft Local Plan (Reg 19).

You said

Feedback received included approximately 800 responses from nearly 150 individual representors. The responses included statutory agencies, neighbouring boroughs, developers, landowners, community groups, resident’s associations and individuals. The full detail of consultations responses is set out in the Schedule of Representations to the Reg 19 Local Plan.

We did

The draft Local Plan and its supporting documents were approved by Council on 19 October 2021 for submission to the Secretary of State for independent examination in public.

You can read more about this consultation here.

We asked

We asked for your feedback on the public realm improvement proposals for Finchley Central – ‘Finchley Square’. We also asked for your thoughts on the types and times of community activities you would like to see taking place in Finchley Square.

You said

We received an over 130 detailed responses to the feedback questionnaires. Our six pop-up events were very well attended, allowing us to answer many of your questions and hear your ideas. The results for the public realm improvement proposals were overwhelmingly positive:

• 88% of your responses either directly supported the proposals to increase greening in Finchley Central (76%) or felt neutral (12%).
• 80% of your responses either directly supported the proposals to make the town centre more accessible (62% ) or felt neutral about this (18%).
• 75% of your responses either directly supported the proposals to strengthen the visual identity of Finchley Central (57%) or felt neutral (18%).
• 78% of your responses either directly supported the proposals to create a community destination in the town centre (56% ) or felt neutral (22%).

In terms of the community events; the most popular types were markets, exhibitions and performances; and the most popular time of day for the community events was from the lunch-time through to the evening.

You can read the full results of the consultation and the many helpful suggestions that were made here.

We did

The findings from the consultation will be taken and considered by the Council to inform the final proposals developed for the Finchley Central public realm proposals, enabling the Council to start the delivery phase of this project, which presently is anticipated to begin by Summer 2023.

You can read more about this consultation here.

We asked

We asked for your views on our budget proposals for 2021/22.

You said

There were 78 respondents to the consultation. 47% either directly supported the budget proposals (29%) or were neutral (18%). Out of the 78 respondents, 48 responded on the proposed Council Tax increase for 2021/22. Overall, nearly three fifths of respondents (58%, 28 out of 48 respondents) support a Council Tax increase to help fund the budget gap in 2021/22.

You can read the full results of the consultation here.

We did

The findings from the consultation were reported to Policy and Resources Committee on 8 February 2021 and will the 2021/22 budget was approved by Full Council on 2 March 2021.

You can read more about this consultation here.

We Asked

We asked for your views on the Chipping Barnet Community Plan.

You Said

Feedback received included over 700 comments on the draft community plan. The full detail of consultation responses alongside the council’s response and next steps taken is set out in the Engagement Summary and Proposed Next Steps report.

We Did

Following a public consultation undertaken between the 8th January – 19th February 2021, the council has proceeded to adopt the Chipping Barnet Community Plan in June 2021. Furthermore, your feedback over the consultation period has informed the next stage of this commission, creating a shortlist of initial ideas that the council will prioritise and work with the community to realise. To read more about these projects and their progress please go to the Progressed Project Ideas page.