Policy and Consultation

Community Matters Consultation

Community Matters has launched a short online consultation about local experience of the Big Society.

London Borough of Barnet

Have your say on housing allocations

London Borough of Barnet would like to hear your views on their proposed changes to the council’s housing allocations scheme. They are considering these changes as a result of a review of how the existing scheme is working and to reflect the reforms in the recently enacted Localism Act. 

The main changes are:

• Local connection- applicants will normally be expected to have lived in Barnet for 2 years
• Non qualification- certain classes of applicant will not be placed into any housing band
• Community contribution- formal caring will be recognised and young people will be expected to make a community contribution when they are placed in band 2
• Pan-London Mobility
• Discretionary succession

To find out more, please visit the engage space website. Here you will find a summary of the changes which explains why London Borough of Barnet think they are necessary, and a full version of the proposed revised scheme. The consultation closes on 2 March 2012.

Housing forum on 23 February

You are also invited to attend a housing forum on 23 February 2012, 9:30am at NLBP where these changes will be discussed as well as other housing policy issues.

Proposed Further Changes to the Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPDs

Core Strategy and Development Management policies DPDs Examination

Barnet's Core Strategy and Development Management Policies documents are currently subject to an Examination in Public (EiP) conducted by a Planning Inspector who was appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government The Examination in Public hearing lasted from the 6 December until 14 December 2011 at Hendon Town Hall.

Post submission proposed further changes

At the Core Strategy and Development Management policies examination the role of the Inspector - Mr Vincent Maher, MA (CANTAB) MCD MBA MRTPI, is to assess the soundness of the Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPDs. The Inspector is considering whether both documents are compliant with the requirements set out in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and whether they meet the criteria for soundness, that is they are justified,effective and consistent with national policy.

You can go online here for more information and to submit your views to. Comments should be received no later than 8 March 2012 at 4pm.

London Councils Grants consultation 2013/15

London Councils invites you to respond to this public consultation about its future grants programme and its review of the potential equalities effects on the protected groups as part of its duties under the Equality Act 2010.

This consultation exercise will assist London Councils in reaching the following decisions in future:

• Which of the 105 current commissions should be funded beyond the end of their fixed funding agreements and until the end of the 2012/13 financial year?
• What principles and priorities will be applied in selecting commissions to start from 1 April 2013?

We will not publish individual replies. You may respond in an individual capacity or on behalf of an organisation.

Take part in the consultation now by following this link, or visit the Grants website to read further information on the timetable for the consultation, background information and our initial assessment of the equalities effects.

Voluntary Sector Budget - The consultation document sets out a proposal to reduce the funding that Adult Social Services would provide in 2011/12. Your organisation should respond to this proposal by completing the Questionnaire and returning it to amisha.sheth@barnet.gov.uk by 27 January 2011.

For the official response from CommUNITY Barnet on reduction of funding to voluntary organisations by Adult Social Services see here.

Housing and Support for Older People - Barnet Council would like your views on their proposals for the future of housing and support services for older people in Barnet. They  have an online Questionnaire which we encourage all organisations to participate in. 

Large budget reductions and changes to Barnet Council Children's services are being proposed. There is therefore a consultation which includes:

• A review of all youth and connexions services, education welfare services for older young people, play services, sports development services, young people’s participation and the youth offending service.
• Review of the future of Barnet’s children’s centres and 'sure start' commissioned services.
• Consultation on reducing the support provided to schools, including a 'new relationships' with schools project (reducing school improvement support services in the light of changing Government policy) and proposed reduction in behavioural support.’ The deadline for this consultation is 30 January and more information is available on our on our consultation page.

Adult Social Services is producing an information, advice, advocacy and brokerage strategy. This sets out their ambitions for information, advice, advocacy and brokerage services and suggests how they can make sure they are the best they can be within the available resources. It says what the council should do and fund, and how it can best work with partners, communities, volunteers and individuals. It sets out how Adult Social Services intend to invest in these services over the next 3 to 5 years.

Adult Social Services want to involve the people who use information, advice, advocacy and brokerage in the design and monitoring of those services. In particular they want to link the services to the Centre for Independent Living, an organisation run for and by disabled people.

For more information on the consultation and joining the reference group please visit NAVCA's website.

Listening exercise on NHS modernisation - The Government has launched a two-month “listening exercise” to hear the public’s views on NHS modernisation. Have your say (Department of Health website) 

The engagement exercise will focus on four key areas over the coming weeks:

• the role of choice and competition for improving quality;

• how to ensure public accountability and patient involvement in the new system;

• how new arrangements for education and training can support the modernisation process; and

• how advice from across a range of healthcare professions can improve patient care.

The Department of Health also published a leaflet Working together for a stronger NHS setting out why change is needed in the NHS.

Government Equalities Office consultation - strengthening women's voices in government - The GEO is consulting around women's engagement with government and the new gender architecture that will replace the Women's National Commission which closed in December.

The Women’s Resource Centre has produced a briefing on the consultation with initial areas of concern and will produce a template response for others to use. All answers will be fed into the WRC response to give a more detailed picture of the opinions of the women's sector in the UK. For more information about the WRC consultation contact Charlotte - charlotte@wrc.org.uk

If you would prefer to respond directly to the GEO consultation, it is open until 10 June 2011 and can be responded to only through an online survey.  

The Department of communities and local government is consulting on new Best Value guidance, setting out some reasonable expectations of the way best value authorities should work with voluntary and community groups when facing difficult funding decisions.They would welcome comments from any organisations and individuals affected by the new guidance and any others with an interest.

 Big White Wall: online service for people in psychological distress - Provided in partnership with the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, the Big White Wall is an online community of people with mental health problems and offers a forum to ‘speak’ to other people experiencing psychological distress and is staffed by professionals who ensure the safety and anonymity of all members. 

In the Local Development Framework (LDF) the Core Strategy and Development Management Policies are two of the most important documents. The Core Strategy sits at the heart of the LDF and sets out where, when and how change will take place providing a shared vision of what Barnet will be like as a place in 2026. All other planning documents need to accord with its strategic direction and key planning policies.

The Pre Submission Amendments provide the final opportunity for public consultation on changes to the Core Strategy. They have  been produced to resolve objections made to the previous stage of the Core Strategy and provides an opportunity for those who have made objections to withdraw their comments. The Development Management Policies document sits beneath the Core Strategy in the hierarchy of the LDF. It sets out the detailed borough-wide implementation planning policies for development and forms the basis for local planning authority decision making.

The consultation period runs from 11 May 2011 to 5:00pm 22 June 2011. These documents and supporting documents including representation forms are available for viewing during the consultation period at the website. Responses can be made by following the format set out in the representation forms via email to forward.planning@barnet.gov.uk and by post. Further information is also available from the team on 020 8359 4990.

The North London Waste Plan is being developed by Councils in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest. When adopted, the Plan will form part of each council’s Local Development Framework. The consultation period on the document runs from 11 May to 22 June 2011.

The North London Waste Plan identifies a range of suitable sites for the management of all North London’s waste up to 2027 and sets out policies and guidelines for determining planning applications for waste developments. The plan is available to view from 11 May at www.nlwp.net. Your comments should be made in writing using the specific ‘Submission Draft’ representation form. For more information contact Archie Onslow on feedback@nlwp.net or 020 7974 5916.

Ofsted has launched a consultation on the inspection of Local Authority Children's Services in England. These inspections will focus on the effectiveness of local authority and partners' services for children who may be at risk of harm, including the effectiveness of early identification and early help, and on services for children in care. The new inspection arrangements will come into effect from May 2012. The consultation paper is available from the Ofsted website; please refer to it when completing the survey. You can complete the consultation questions here. 

For further information contact Chris O' Connor at chris.oconnor@ofsted.gov.uk or on 03000131078.

 This consultation seeks views on the detail and practicalities of a new mandatory power of possession to enable landlords to take swifter action to evict their most antisocial tenants.

Responses are requested from those involved as front line practitioners in dealing with antisocial behaviour and the prosecution through the courts of those responsible, and the public, particularly those who have been victims or have provided evidence as a witness in court cases.

Have your say here.

Deadline for responses is the 27 October 2011.

In December, Adult Social Care and Health will create the council’s first Local Account. This is a report on the successes and challenges of adult social care in Barnet over the past year.

They have some ideas for what they want to include in theirLocal Account, but would like Barnet residents with an interest in adult social care services to tell them what they would like to see in the report.

Complete the online consultation here.

Barnet residents are being asked for their views on which services are the most important to them over the next decade.

As part of Barnet Council’s 2012/13 Corporate Plan consultation, residents are encouraged to visit here and express their views how the council should prioritise future resources, whilst protecting key services.

The current economic climate is challenging. Last year, the Coalition Government’s Spending Review set out plans to cut public spending by £81 billion over four years. Funding to local government is being reduced by 26 % by 2014-15. As a result, the council agreed a budget of £288 million for 2011-12 along with further savings for the next three years.

Residents, local businesses, partners and community groups are invited to comment on the Council's Business Plan and their proposed budget for 2012/13. You can take part by completing their online survey.

The survey asks for your views on the Council's Business Plan and the budget they have proposed in terms of the savings and priorities identified within each service area. The Council also wants to know what you think of the relationship between keeping Council Tax low compared to protecting council services.

As well as this general consultation there are a number of detailed service specific consultations on those services where the Council are proposing to make savings to their front line services. Plus a detailed consultation on their Corporate Plan.

 Full details can be found here.

The Government’s spending review has reduced the amount of money available for the Council to spend over the coming years. Barnet, like all other councils, is faced with making some difficult decisions on how best to continue services with less money, while trying to minimise the impact on residents.

The attached letter launches this year’s consultation on the Children’s Service budget proposals for 2012-13 and invites your views. You can feedback in a number of ways:

• online survey
• web             
• email: Childrens.ServiceConsultation@barnet.gov.uk

The consultation closes on 6 January 2012. The Council will take into account your responses before a decision is made by Cabinet and Council on 20 February 2012 and 6 March 2012 respectively.

Barnet Council have launched a consultation on making use of fixed term tenancies for new council tenants from April 2012. Under the proposals, most new council tenants would be given a fixed term tenancy of 5 years. A tenancy would then normally come to an end if any of the following applied:

•  The tenant or a member of their household has been involved in criminal activity
• The household income is high enough to secure a home elsewhere or has assets of more than £50,000
• The property is larger than the tenant currently needs
• The tenant has broken their tenancy agreement and not maintained an agreement to remedy this
• The home has been adapted extensively for someone who no longer lives in the property

To find out more and to give your views please see here.