Barnet’s residents put questions to council Leader and Cabinet members in first Q&A

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Question and Answer event

Question and Answer event

Urban regeneration, cost of living support, town centre parking, and crime and anti-social behaviour were among the questions put to council Leader Barry Rawlings and his Cabinet members in Barnet’s first live online Q&A with the borough’s political leaders.

The event - the first staged as part of the council’s commitment to giving residents a greater say in tackling local issues - saw people tune in for the lively hour-long teatime session and put their questions to the panel of councillors. Residents had submitted more than 50 questions in advance of the evening grilling of the panel.

Questions posed on the night reflected a wide range of concerns. While time limited the number of questions the panel could answer in the live session, councillors were put on the spot to answer:

  • The availability and accessibility of GP services, especially in areas with growing populations
  • Dealing with the impact of crime and anti-social behaviour, and how the council works with Police to improve the service for victims of crime
  • The provision of free and paid-for parking in town centres
  • The support and number of places available for children with special educational needs
  • Help for the many residents experiencing in-work poverty
  • Regeneration plans for Edgware
  • And the regeneration plans for Colindale’s Grahame Park Estate.

Full video available here: Q&A with the Leader and Cabinet of Barnet Council - 22 June 2023 - YouTube

For those unable to ask their question in the live session, the panel promised to follow up with written answers.

This was Barnet’s first live Q&A session with the council Leader and his Cabinet members. It is expected that this will become a regular fixture, ensuring that Barnet becomes a ‘listening council’ that collaborates and builds a dialogue with residents and communities. Find out more about Our Plan for Barnet.

Follow us on Twitter @BarnetCouncil or make sure you’re signed up for our weekly newsletter Barnet First for upcoming Q&As. To subscribe to Barnet First email: barnet.first@barnet.gov.uk