We asked, you said, we did

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We asked

We asked you to apply to be part of the Culture Strategy Steering Group. This group will oversee the development of the Culture Strategy to ensure it sets out a programme for cultural development that reflects the needs of our borough and that the whole community can feel ownership of.

We asked you to answer some questions that focused on:

• why you thought you were a suitable to be on the steering group
• your knowledge and experience
• your connection to Barnet and how engaged you are with our local communities.

You said

We received a high volume of responses, with 55 individuals applying. The standard of these applications was extremely high and provided us with a broad spectrum of knowledge and expertise.

We did

We put in place fair and transparent methods to select members of the steering group. This assessment of applications was conducted by two individuals who work for the council and an independent non-council representative. 16 individuals were selected to be a member of the Culture Strategy Steering Group.

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We asked

We asked for for your views on the draft Children and Families Early Help Strategy, through a public consultation, consultation with children and young people during the Christmas BACE play provision, focus groups with parents and members and feedback from partners and internal staff. We asked if the strategy was easy to read and understand, if the strategy set out what children and families wanted to see, if it covered what was important to them, we asked about the design and layout to see if the strategy would be of interest to anyone who could access or deliver Early Help

We received feedback from 90 children and young people between 11-16 years, to the survey questions that specifically looked at whether the outcomes for their age groups resonated with them, their opinions on the design of the document and how easy it was to understand.

We received 83 responses to the online questionnaire.

You said

Children and Young people gave entirely positive responses on the children-friendly survey with no requests to change anything.

Generally positive feedback from parents/adults who said they particularly enjoyed the ordering of the document and viewed it as a guide of sorts on what to expect with their children as they grow.

You said you felt that it would be of benefit to parents for the document to be slightly more operational and to explain how a parent would go about accessing the support spoken about in the document, and what the criteria are for accessing the non-universal services. You agreed with the vision for each age group but would appreciate if the text was justified. You wanted the Early Help Hub details included next to the map, instead of separated. You wanted the priorities and outcomes to stand out and to have more specific detail on how children and families with SEND needs can access the support. You said you wanted a clear action plan to support the strategy.

We did

We updated the strategy to include more information on where to access support and what support is available through links to the Children and Family EARLY Help hubs. We added specific detail on the Local offer to support children with SEND needs. We made the outcomes and priorities stand out and be clearer in the document. We included the hub details with the maps showing the hub localities. The strategy is not an operational document however we ensured clear links in the document to our webpages and hub contacts where the operational delivery is set out. We did include how we will work together across the partnership in the strategy.We made changes to the graphics and layout following the feedback. You can view the final Early Help Strategy 2023 – 2027 here.

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We asked

We asked for your views on the proposed relocated playground at Basing Hill Park.

You said

We received 56 responses to the online questionnaire, we received three direct emails and we spoke to 28 people at the two events we ran in the park. The key themes from the public consultation were:

• 78% of respondents liked the proposed location by Wayside
• 81% of respondents liked what was proposed for the new playground
• there was a request to include litter bins and benches in the design
• there was a request for a sand pit and/or water feature
• some people would like all of the playground fenced while others would like only parts of the playground fenced
• some people asked how the new playground will fit with the recently formally installed baseball pitch.

We did

Following the feedback received we have worked with the Herts Baseball Club, who are based in Basing Hill Park, and the national development agency for baseball, to understand the baseball pitch dimensions and the likelihood of balls travelling outside of the pitch. We have arranged for a map of the park to be drawn to scale, to include the baseball pitch, the existing backstop fencing and the soon to be installed lower fencing, as well as other key features of the park. We will use this map to have an informed discussion with our insurance team.

We have met with our play contractor and have discussed potential revisions to the playground, this will include providing litter bins and benches within the playground. The playground will all be fenced. Once the exact location of the playground has been agreed, we can finalise the design and place the order for the equipment. We will publish the final designs on this webpage.

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We asked

We asked for your views on the proposed reduction to the Published Admission Number (PAN) of Friern Barnet Secondary School, from 162 places to 150 places, on the grounds that the school has been undersubscribed for some years and the demand is unlikely to increase in the foreseeable future.

You said

We received seven responses to the online questionnaire. Three respondents strongly agreed or agreed to the proposed reduction, one neither agreed nor disagreed, one tended to disagree, and one strongly disagreed.

Respondents in favour of the proposal gave the reasons that the school has been undersubscribed for some years and the proposed reduction would enable more efficient use of resources.

The first respondent who disagreed with the proposal gave the reason that there are an increasing number of new developments within the borough, and this may place pressure on secondary schools. However, our school roll projections, which take into account estimated pupil yield from new developments, indicate that demand for secondary places in the area will decline in the coming years. In the unlikely event that a rise in demand is seen, the school will be able increase the admission number, without the need for a formal consultation. The second respondent suggested that we should look at placing some of the pupils from the heavily oversubscribed schools in the area to the undersubscribed schools. Whilst we already offer Friern Barnet places as an alternative school option to local applicants whose school preferences cannot be met, we have a statutory duty to meet parental preference where possible, and we cannot enforce admission to alternative schools.

We did

The PAN for Friern Barnet School has formerly been reduced from 162 to 150 places, with effect from 1 September 2024.

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We asked

We asked for your views on a set of proposals on the way tennis is accessed across the borough and how they can be run in the future.

You said

We received 486 responses to the online questionnaire, and we received three direct emails.

The summary of the responses is:

• the majority of users played tennis once a week in parks
• suitable playable surface, court availability and advance bookings were the most popular answers given to what would make users play more tennis in parks
• the majority of respondents were happy with the online bookings platform
• most of the respondents were in favour of some form of charging structure, though a large number of respondents were against any charging structure at all.

We did

The results of the consultation were used to form a report that was presented to and approved at the Environment and Climate Change Committee in November 2022 (Agenda Item 10). The committee approved to introduce a sustainable operating model which also seeks to grow tennis participation in Barnet by:

• introducing an annual season ticket membership which allows the holder to book two 1-hour bookings per week
• providing three hours free to play on weekdays for all courts (10:00-11:00 and 16:00-18:00)
• bringing all bookings made by non-season ticket holders and outside of the free to play sessions in line with the existing pay and play model currently in place in Victoria Park and Hendon Park
• the installation of gated technology to protect and courts from misuse and damage
• provide for continued usage of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) online booking system across all sites
• delivering a borough wide investment programme to bring courts up to a good standard for safe and enjoyable play for all
• creating a sinking fund to safeguard the future quality and condition of the borough’s tennis courts.

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We asked

We would like to thank all respondents for taking the time to take part and provide feedback as part of the consultation exercise.

We asked for your views on the current ways you can get involved in the council decision making process at council committee and the proposed additional ways for participating at formal decision-making bodies.

Our aim was to improve and expand the current offer for participation in council decision making meetings. The feedback from the consultation was utilised to help shape the rules in the council constitution on participating in the council decision making process.

The consultation document was split into two parts, the first focused on the current arrangements for public participation. The second part set out the proposed new approach for public participation at full council and committee meetings. Further details about the consultation are set out in the consultation document.

You said

We received 53 responses to our consultation on public participation at council committee meetings. Overall, the responses to the consultation demonstrates support towards enhancing participation at council committee meetings.

Key themes from the consultation feedback were supportive towards enabling:

• more people to get involved with the Council decision-making process
• Public Questions to be raised at other council meetings such as at Full Council and Cabinet
• lowering the threshold for Petitions to be raised at Council decision-making bodies
• use of the option to raise Deputations (for groups of people to raise a matter at Council decision making meetings)
• participation in scrutiny of the Council.

The detailed breakdown and findings of the consultation are set out in the findings report which is accessible via link the here.

We did

We reviewed your feedback from the consultation and utilised the information to develop arrangements to broaden the opportunities for public participation at council decision making meetings.

Following the analysis on the results of the consultation, a number of arrangements were drafted and subsequently approved at the Full Council meeting on 28 February. The new arrangements will come into effect as of May 2023 as part of the new Council Constitution and include the following processes outlined below.

• we will adopt the word ‘citizen’ in the context of participation at council committee meetings which includes residents living in Barnet as well as those people who study, work or have businesses in Barnet
• as part of the Governance Review project arrangements will create a dedicated council democracy webpage to help you understand how they can participate in council decision making by setting out the options including for deputations, petitions, public questions and overview and scrutiny involvement
• to promote further engagement in council decision making, the arrangements for Public Questions will be expanded to other council meetings such as Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings
• a new arrangement for deputations (signed by between 5 and 24 people) will be embedded in the council’s governance arrangements
• we will lower the threshold for petition signatures to be discussed at council meetings and therefore easier for citizens to receive responses.

The full details of the new arrangements for participating in Council decision making meeting were approved at the Full Council meeting on 28 February 2023 and can be accessed here.

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We asked

We asked for your views on the draft Public Path Orders (PPO) policy, which sets out the council’s approach to requests for changes to Public Rights of Way (PRoW) across the borough, including the criteria, requirements, approach to processing applications and charges.

You said

We had a total of 21 responses and overall the feedback was positive. The results include:

• over 93% of those responding were Barnet residents
• over 76% agreed that the proposed PPO policy made clear the process for adding, changing and removing PRoW
• two thirds of respondents agreed that the proposed PPO policy clarified the council’s approach to maintain open paths and extinguishing blocked paths
• over 80% agreed that the proposed minimum widths were sufficient
• 57.14% agreed that the PPO policy made it clear the grounds on which interested parties can request additions, changes and removals of PRoW.
• 68.75% greed that the process for dealing with council generated orders was appropriate
• over 57% agreed that the determination process is fair to both applicants and PRoW users. 14% disagreed
• 46.67% agreed that the proposed charges were a fair reflection of the work involved for the council.

Comments overwhelmingly welcomed the new policy, although some mentioned that the policy could be easier to understand.

We did

The responses demonstrated that residents consider Barnet Council to be fair, considerate and clear in what we are trying to achieve, although some improvements are required in making the policy easier to understand by removing jargon.

The council has agreed to adopt the PPO Policy.

We asked

A review of the previous consultation showed that although respondents to the Halliwick Rec SuDS questionnaire stated they generally supported the scheme, some felt they needed further engagement and education to understand the benefits fully.

In summer 2023, we engaged a specialist to work alongside the project team and consult with the local residents about the scheme. In September 2022, over 1000 educational flyers were distributed to houses locally as well as to shops and businesses along Colney Hatch Lane with posters erected at the park entrances. Further to this a series of engagement and consultation sessions were delivered at Halliwick Rec Ground and St Peter Le Poer Church between October 2022 and January 2023 to increase awareness and understanding of the local flood risk and the scheme itself. During the sessions, designs and images were on display and the local community were given the opportunity to have their say during the design process, ahead of construction of the scheme.

We asked for your opinions on the concept design and for you to engage with us to inform the design development from concept design through to the final detailed scheme.

You said

Across the three dates between October 2022 and January 2023, 267 people engaged with the designs for the Halliwick Rec SuDS and joined in the activities.

The consultation process proved invaluable in raising awareness of the scheme and improving understanding of the need for flood risk management and the wider benefits that the project will deliver. It also enabled the those who attended the sessions an opportunity to help shape the final detailed design so that it met the needs of the local community.

The general consensus from the consultation process is that the wetland is welcomed, along with a new central footpath, the resurfacing of existing footpaths, and the new landscaping including the mounding, tree planting and informal children’s play.

Some concerns were raised during the consultation sessions in relation to maintenance, health and safety and privacy. These have been addressed in the design process and in consultation with the Council’s Parks and Flood Risk Management teams.

We did

Suggestions made by the local community throughout the process have been taken on board and designs have been amended accordingly.

A summary of the outcomes of the engagement sessions and comments made can be found here.

Key amendments to the designs as a direct consequence of the consultation outcomes have included the reshaping of the mounds, the inclusion of a viewing platform as opposed to an imposing boardwalk, the number and location of tree planting and additional wetland edged planting. Much of the highly desired wider park landscaping and infrastructure improvements have also been incorporated into the scheme including new seating and bins, the creation of a new central footpath and resurfacing of the existing footpaths following the securement of additional funding by the Council and the Friends of Halliwick Rec.

The scheme has been carefully designed to reduce the flood risk to nearby properties and highways and to increase the amenity and biodiversity. Designs have been shaped in accordance with the outcomes of consultation delivered between June 2022 and January 2023 and in line with available budgets. The final designs for the SuDS at Halliwick Rec Ground were presented during the sessions on 29 January 2023 and can be viewed here.

Construction is set to commence on site in the Spring/Summer 2023 with completion anticipated by the end of 2023.

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We asked

We asked for your views on our draft Barnet Food Plan 2022 - 2027.

You said

We received 56 responses to our online survey asking for feedback on the Draft Barnet Food Plan. In addition, public health officers delivered presentations and led discussions with seven community groups and council stakeholders. Notes from these sessions as well as written submissions from six community groups and individuals were received and incorporated into the final draft of the Food Strategy.

Some of the key findings from the consultation were as follows:

• top priorities identified: addressing climate change across our work on food and ensuring access to healthy, affordable food for all residents especially during the cost-of-living crisis
• significant desire for more community gardening and growing initiatives and spaces, and more community food initiatives
• the food environment and unhealthy high streets are seen as a barrier to healthy eating
• the Draft Food Plan is too vague and uses too much jargon
• the Draft Food Plan is ‘data-light’ and needs more data
• the council should lead on promoting plant-based foods and diets to people in Barnet and where it sells and provides food .

We did

We reviewed the Draft Food Plan and added more data, including Barnet-specific data on the health of adults and children, and deprivation and food insecurity. Where data is not immediately available, such as information on procurement by Barnet Council, gathering this data has been added to actions outlined in the Food Plan.

We reviewed the Draft Food Plan to remove jargon and clarify specific areas and phrases that were flagged as unclear.

We reviewed the three themes and associated actions. We streamlined the thematic areas in line with the priorities of stakeholders and residents. Amending the thematic areas to Healthy People, Healthy Place and Healthy Planet allows for greater emphasis on actions which aim to make Barnet a healthy food place, such as community gardening and growing spaces and coordination and support of the local food system.

The final draft of the Barnet Food Plan was approved by the Health and Wellbeing Board in January 2023 and you can view it here Barnet-Food-Plan-2022-2027.

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We asked

We asked for your views on the support services on offer for unpaid carers in Barnet. Through pro-active engagement with residents and community organisations, our aim was to co-produce a shared vision for carers in Barnet.

You said

We received 270 responses to the online survey. A further 30 carers and young carers were engaged via remote and in-person focus groups, led by Barnet Carers Centre.

Feedback from the above co-production and engagement activity has informed the development of our new Carers Strategy.

Key themes from the survey feedback are as follows:

• carers have struggled during the pandemic - often not being informed when there is a change to the care and support of the cared for person (e.g., plan for the reopening of day opportunities)
• the majority of respondents to the survey have reported caring for over 10 years and spend over 21 hours a week on average in their caring role
• young carers often take on huge amounts of responsibility and need support to balance competing responsibilities and demands. Priorities for young people included pursuing their education, timely mental health and wellbeing support as well as time for themselves and socialising
• carers value activities that enable them to have regular breaks from their caring responsibilities to support balancing their caring roles with their own personal lives and interests
• parent carers have emerged as a prominent carers group.

We did

The co-production and engagement feedback will be included in the new Carers Strategy 2023 – 2028 and have informed the new priorities and outcomes in the strategy. The next step is to translate this strategy into action so that it makes a real and lasting difference to the health and wellbeing of carers of all ages.

A Carers and Young Carers Strategy Implementation board will be developed to have oversight of strategy implementation including the action plan. Actions to deliver the strategy will be informed by feedback and recommendations from carers.

We will be publishing the new Carers Strategy and carrying out another round of consultation in February 2023.