Councillor Barry Rawlings has been re-elected as the Leader of Barnet Council following a closely contested vote at the Annual Council meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The decision came after a vote that saw 31 councillors in favour of Rawlings, with 31 abstentions and one vote against.
Councillor Rawlings was nominated by Councillor Ross Houston, who highlighted his extensive track record in delivering significant council programmes. These include the biggest ever road and pavement programme, fixing and expanding CCTV, introducing community skips, implementing tougher fines for fly tipping and anti-social behaviour, separate food waste collections, and entering a capital contract. Rawlings's administration also brought services in-house, obtained London living wage accreditation, secured a thousand new council homes, and set higher affordable housing targets. Further achievements include tougher protections of the green belt, investing in biodiversity, developing a roadmap to net zero, and filling 61% more potholes than under the Conservatives. Millions have been invested in parks and green spaces, with 20 playgrounds refurbished. The council also achieved a good offset with outstanding features for children and care, a good CQC rating, and a top-rated housing service. A new cultural strategy and a cultural impact award were secured, alongside the installation of over 2,000 electric vehicle charging points. Rawlings also increased opportunities for public participation, making Barnet a borough of sanctuary, and implemented a new equality strategy and work to reduce poverty. Community safety pop-up hubs and ward walks were established, over 4,000 trees were planted, and 80 more school green travel plans were introduced. Community round tables were held, a robust violence against women and girls strategy was implemented, and secure tenancies were introduced. The council achieved secure dementia-friendly status, is working towards age-friendly status, and trained 400 mental health first aiders in schools. Social care and mental health charters were co-produced. Furthermore, Rawlings's administration achieved over £74 million in savings and developed a roadmap to financial sustainability. They also successfully lobbied for an additional £37 million in central government funding, all while keeping council tax lower than neighbouring councils.
Councillor Peter Zinkin was nominated by Councillor Tory, who acknowledged the need for collaborative working in the current political landscape. Councillor Tory stated, We felt very excluded for the four years that we were out of office and I'm sure you felt so in the previous time. I know there has been an administrative agreement in order to deal with what has happened at the election and that process is important. But we will be judged by our deeds whether we can cooperate and whether we can make Barnet a better place which is what we promised.
Zinkin's supporters pointed to his detailed understanding of council matters and his role in past corrections.
The local government elections held on May 7, 2026, resulted in a council with 31 Labour members, 31 Conservative members, and one Green Party member, leading to the current political balance. The Green Party member stated that residents voted for a chamber with three parties represented, with the Green Party receiving 16% of the vote, and that this matters. They expressed disappointment that their constructive approach to discussing how to work differently in a council with no overall control was met with immediate rejection. The Green Party member voted against the proposed constitutional amendments.
Further details on the council's agenda and reports can be found in the Agenda frontsheet and the Public reports pack.
