Four young Barnet residents tell us what they are looking forward to doing once they have had the vaccine. They talk about looking forward to travelling, visiting indoor venues safely, or meeting up with friends and families without worrying.

The campaign aims to reassure people of all ages that the vaccine is safe, effective, and the key way out of the pandemic and to highlight that getting vaccinated brings everyone one step closer to being able to do the things they love.

To meet the challenges now faced, the council’s Housing and Growth Committee approved the Work, Skills and Productivity Action Plan 2021-2025 when it met on 14 June. The plan will play a key part in the borough’s recovery effort and build on the significant work already underway around skills and employment.

As seen across the rest of the country, the unemployment rate has risen in Barnet, with 7.5 per cent of working age adults claiming some sort of unemployment benefit.

The Growth Strategy aims to make Barnet a great place to live, work, do business and visit by 2030.

To achieve this ambition, we have identified five main themes, supported by a series of 20 objectives, which guide a programme of regeneration, development and business, and employment and skills activities.

The campaign will target more than 20 locations that have been identified as littering hotspots. The rubbish-collecting mission – which will include both council staff and good-natured volunteers – is part of Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean, running from 28 May to 13 June. The drive coincides with the council’s recent investment in more frontline staff, waste collection services and extra bins to keep Barnet’s much-loved parks and town centres clean and litter-free.

During her mayoral year Councillor Cornelius’s husband, former Leader of Barnet Council Councillor Richard Cornelius, will be the Mayor’s Escort and Councillor Cllr Saira Don will be her Deputy Mayor.

Councillor Cornelius took over from the Borough’s previous Mayor, Councillor Caroline Stock. Councillor Stock served for two consecutive years as Mayor due to the pandemic and the sad passing of Councillor Brian Gordon, who was due to take over as Mayor in September last year.

The council’s Policy and Resources Committee last night (24 May) approved a series of recommendations to revamp the system for Area Committees spending Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money. CIL funding is generated by development in the borough for use on local infrastructure improvements ranging from new play equipment and parks projects, to traffic calming schemes.

To celebrate the re-opening of our high streets, as part of the Discover Barnet campaign, Barnet Council is hosting a competition to encourage independent businesses and local organisations across our town centres to refresh their window displays and come up with a business plan to show how the prize money would be invested.