Barnet Council is urging its NHS partners to adopt the London Living Wage as part of a broader strategy to improve the financial well-being of residents and tackle health inequalities.

The call comes as the council itself is working towards accreditation as a London Living Wage employer, a commitment that extends to its contractors. Barnet Council aims to be accredited by May 2026, as outlined in the Barnet Food Action Plan 2026-2028. This accreditation will require its third-party contractors to also adhere to the London Living Wage.

Diagram illustrating the pillars of the Barnet Food Plan: Healthy People, Healthy Places, and Healthy Planet, and their associated strategic areas.
Diagram illustrating the pillars of the Barnet Food Plan: Healthy People, Healthy Places, and Healthy Planet, and their associated strategic areas.

During a Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on Thursday, March 19, 2026, Mr. Bob Bevel, representing the Shipping Food Bank, highlighted that while Barnet Council is making progress, the pace of adoption among other major employers, such as the Royal Free Trust, needs to accelerate. The response from these major employers is not explicitly detailed, but Councillor Alison Moore acknowledged the aspiration, noting that NHS employment practices are governed by the Agenda for Change framework. She affirmed the council's commitment to encouraging partners to adopt the London Living Wage.

The Agenda for Change framework is the governing structure for NHS employment. The Health and Wellbeing Board is not the direct decision-making body for NHS employment practices, implying that it does not have direct authority to mandate the adoption of the London Living Wage within NHS Trusts.

The Barnet Food Plan outlines key themes for 'Healthy People,' 'Healthy Places,' and 'Healthy Planet' to promote a sustainable food system.
The Barnet Food Plan outlines key themes for 'Healthy People,' 'Healthy Places,' and 'Healthy Planet' to promote a sustainable food system.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to improve residents' financial well-being and address health inequalities. The Barnet Food Plan 2026-2028 details actions aimed at creating a more equitable and sustainable food system within the borough. As of March 2026, a significant number of actions within the implementation plan are progressing as expected, though some face delays or are yet to be started.

A pie chart illustrating the status of actions within an implementation plan as of March 8, 2026, showing that 42 actions have progressed in line with the plan, while others are completed, delayed, not achieved, incorporated elsewhere, not started, or have no status provided.
A pie chart illustrating the status of actions within an implementation plan as of March 8, 2026, showing that 42 actions have progressed in line with the plan, while others are completed, delayed, not achieved, incorporated elsewhere, not started, or have no status provided.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as of March 2026 show a mixed picture, with some indicators moving in the desired direction, while others have not significantly changed or have moved against expectations.

Pie chart showing the status of actions within an implementation plan as of March 8, 2026, with the majority of actions progressing in line with the plan.
Pie chart showing the status of actions within an implementation plan as of March 8, 2026, with the majority of actions progressing in line with the plan.

Further details on the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy Implementation Plan can be found in the relevant reports from the Health and Wellbeing Board meetings. Supplement Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy Implementation Plan Update 19th-Mar-2026 09.30 Hea.