Our Concerns and Policies

Our Concerns:

We are very concerned that Barnet Council consistently ignores the will of the people and imposes decisions on New and East Barnet that are inappropriate. The Local Development Framework current identifies East Barnet Road as an area for residential intensification - that means developers will be able to buy up family homes, pull them down and build blocks of flats in their place.

 

We are also concerned that even when the Council does consult with the residents, it is such a biased or half-hearted consultation that it is meaningless.  For an example of such meaningless consultation, as well as an ominous sign of how the Council would like our Ward to change, you can click here to see a copy of exhibition boards from the recent New Barnet Town Centre Consultation and download a copy of our critique below.

 

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Summary critique of NB Town Centre Consu[...]
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We are worried that the Council actively discourages the general public from attending or asking questions at Council meetings. Meeting papers are often published after the deadline for asking questions at that meeting making attendance somewhat pointless.

 

We are concerned that decisions are taken by a few people and the details are often kept secret. For example the Council recently appointed consultants to examine the potential of setting up something called a Local Asset Backed Vehicle (LABV) - a fancy name for a company holding lots of council land assets, shares in which would then be sold to developers. We don't know precisiely what these consultants have been asked to do and we don't know how much they are being paid - it didn't even go to competitive tender. However it is something which we believe should be made public and discussed more widely before any arrangements are entered into.

What we will fight for:

  • What local people in New and East Barnet genuinely want - not a remote party agenda;
  • Stricter control over the way the Council spends our money;
  • Greater accountability and transparency in the way the Council is run;
  • Maintenance and improvement of the pleasant residential nature of our area; and
  • Oppose inappropriate and unpopular developments that are out of character with the area.