Barnet Council has committed to providing a written response addressing the challenges and opportunities facing the borough's high streets. This decision follows a deputation at a recent council meeting where concerns were raised about the vitality of local businesses and the appearance of high streets.

The commitment comes after Ollie Gough led a deputation to the council, underscoring the strong community spirit within Chipping Barnet High Street while also highlighting the difficulties it faces, such as vacant storefronts and struggling businesses. He urged the council to build upon current initiatives and take advantage of government reforms to revitalise these crucial community hubs.

During the meeting, Councillor Hutton inquired about potential government investment and council support mechanisms for high streets. In response, Gough suggested focusing on cultivating a unique identity for each high street, providing support for small businesses, and enhancing accessibility for vulnerable residents.

Councillor Young then explored how the government's Pride in Place reforms could be leveraged to benefit high streets. Gough emphasised the need for expanded council powers to tackle the issue of empty shops, streamline compulsory purchase orders, and empower communities to acquire assets of community value.

Gough specifically suggested the council needs expanded powers to deal with empty shops, specifically by:

  • Reducing the burden and cost of compulsory purchase orders.
  • Enabling councils to use high street rental auctions for properties vacant for one year within a two-year period, compelling landlords to accept the auction results.
  • Expanding the asset of community value to enable communities to buy properties.

While Councillor Moore proposed a written response to the deputation, indicating the council's interest in taking the ideas forward, Councillor Zinkin initially suggested taking note of the deputation and taking no further action, believing that a cumulative impact assessment would be very helpful in terms of gambling establishments. Ultimately, the council voted to provide a written response to the deputation, signalling their intent to address the concerns raised.

The full discussion can be found in the Barnet Council meeting minutes from 21 October 2025.