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Khalida Khan, of Cleveland Gardens, Cricklewood, pleaded guilty at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on 26 April, to failing to hold a licence and properly manage the House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) which she owns in Herbert Road, West Hendon. HMOs are properties which are lived in by more than one household and where the households share basic amenities.  In July last year West Hendon Neighbourhood Policing Team received a complaint about overcrowding and the poor condition of the house and contacted the council’s Environmental Health Team*.

Thirteen-year-old Gaurika Singh from Mill Hill and seventeen-year-old Haris Bandey from East Finchley will be competing for their home nations of Nepal and Pakistan respectively. Haris is taking part in the 400m Freestyle event on August 6th while Gaurika who is also the youngest competitor at this year’s Olympics, races in the 100m Backstroke the following day. Both Barnet residents, Gaurika and Haris learnt to swim at Barnet Copthall at a very young age and have trained at the club for the majority of their young lives.

We hold in our thoughts and prayers all those who have been so deeply affected by the attacks on London Bridge and in Borough Market on Saturday evening.  We think particularly of the victims, the families and friends of those who have lost their lives or been injured. We give thanks for the bravery, commitment and skill of the emergency services, hospitals and members of the public who offered their assistance so quickly and were undoubtedly able to save many more lives.

That is the question Barnet Council is asking its residents as part of its latest fostering campaign which aims to increase the number of foster carers in the borough. In Barnet, there are currently 335 children and young people in care but there are only 115 foster carers within the Barnet network. With the largest population of any London borough, there is a growing need for more foster carers, particularly those who are able to care for teenagers, sibling groups and children and young people with additional needs.

A hate crime is any crime that is motivated by hostility on the grounds of race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity. This type of crime is never acceptable and to ensure this message is understood, Barnet Council is reminding residents of the options available to them this Hate Crime Awareness Week (14-21 October).

The Virgin Money London Mini Marathon will grace the streets of London on Sunday 24 April 2016 and young people from Barnet have a chance to be a part of the action. 24 young people from the Barnet will have the opportunity to represent the borough at this iconic event.  Due to limited spaces, open trials will be held at Oak Hill Parkrun on Saturday 20 February at 9am. For more information on the open trial, age categories and how to register please visit the council's website, or call 0203 675 7244. Trial registration closes on Wednesday 17 February.

Residents are being asked for their feedback on revised criteria for Barnet Council’s Disabled Persons Freedom Pass scheme. The Disabled Persons Freedom Pass scheme is currently administered by London Councils although the council carries out checks and processes the passes on their behalf. Following a review of the process, the council is improving the way new applicants and existing Disabled Persons Freedom Pass holders are assessed to see if they qualify for a pass. The proposals include: 

In July the council launched its #KeepBarnetClean campaign, a six-month trial programme across the borough to crack down on environmental-crimes such as littering and flytipping. A dedicated team of Environment Enforcement Officers has been patrolling well-known litter hotspots in the borough and investigating flytipping incidents. From this month they will also be making sure businesses are disposing of their waste correctly.

Chiabass Lawrence, who has been managing HMOs across London since 2003, pleaded guilty at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on 19th June for failing to acquire a license for an HMO without reasonable excuse. Mr Lawrence and his property management companies, OGAS Group Ltd and LT Group, were prosecuted under the council’s Additional HMO licensing scheme for breaching property management regulations.

Licences help to protect the health and safety of the tenants in a growing rental sector, and reduce the impact that HMOs can have on local neighbourhoods. The licence will also ensure that only suitable landlords have control of HMOs, and that these properties are managed properly. Barnet Council issued its first HMO Licence in August to a landlord under the new Additional Licencing Scheme, which was introduced on 5 July - targeting more than 3,800 HMOs.