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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:    * more ways to provide evidence to support applications

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.

Running from Saturday 14 July to Saturday 8 September, the challenge is free to take part in, and gives children an incentive to continue reading and developing their literacy during the long summer holidays. This year’s theme celebrates the 80th anniversary of the much-loved comic, Beano. Barnet’s libraries are teaming up with The Reading Agency to bring Dennis, Gnasher, Bananaman and all the Beanotown characters to life.

The Mayor recently presented his Transport Strategy to the London Assembly for consideration before final publication in the coming weeks. Barnet Council welcomes the Mayor of London’s fresh commitment to the creation of a West London Orbital Railway. Following extensive feedback from the consultation, the strategy now also includes the potential for a West London Orbital rail line, connecting Hounslow with Cricklewood and Hendon via Old Oak, Neasden and Brent Cross.

Opendoor Homes will deliver an initial 320 homes for affordable rent for Barnet residents. These new homes will be owned and managed by Opendoor Homes, a subsidiary of The Barnet Group, which is wholly owned by Barnet Council. The new build programme is funded with a loan of up to £65m from Barnet Council. The first site for the new homes will be Basing Way, Finchley Central, where 14 affordable new homes will be built on the site of under-used garages. Pictured, from left to right:

The Customer Transformation Programme will form a vital part of the council’s new Customer Access Strategy which was approved following consultation in June 2016. The Customer Access Strategy (CAS) identified that while 82 per cent of residents use the internet, the vast majority, 80 per cent, of contact with the council is still by phone. The CAS aims to shift this, with its goal to take 80 per cent of interactions online by 2020.