Barnet Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee is set to review a petition concerning a parklet in Hendon, which has garnered over 500 signatures. The petition calls for the removal of wooden planter boxes and seating on Brent Street, NW4 2DR, citing concerns that the parklets have become a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

A group of people, likely council members and representatives, pose for a photograph during a meeting, with some seated at a table in the foreground and others standing behind.
Council meeting

During the committee meeting on Thursday, 16 July 2026, Councillor Alex Prager presented the petition, highlighting that over 88% of the signatories are residents of Hendon ward. He stated that these parklets are perceived by many local residents and shopkeepers as contributing to the issue.

The committee resolved to instruct an officer to prepare a report for a future meeting of the Cabinet on the issues raised, with a recommended course of action. The committee proposed that the report would go to Cabinet at the first meeting in September, following the summer break. However, Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of the Council, indicated a willingness to expedite the process, suggesting that a decision could potentially be made by him if the report could be prepared quickly, even as soon as the Tuesday of that week.

This review comes amidst broader discussions about community safety and incident trends within Barnet. Charts presented at the meeting illustrate incident trends adjusted for population, comparing Barnet with London and national averages, as well as ranking boroughs by incident rank. 1

  1. The committee's agenda and public reports pack for the 16th July 2026 meeting can be found at Agenda frontsheet 16th-Jul-2026 19.00 Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Public reports pack 16th-Jul-2026 19.00 Overview and Scrutiny Committee. ↩