Residents views sought on job opportunities, high streets, study and work spaces, and leisure activities, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Barnet Council is asking residents for views on the local economy in a bid to tackle poverty and ensure community growth.

An engagement programme aiming to find out Barnet’s economic strengths and weaknesses, to help shape its future, launched earlier this month. 

Residents are being asked how satisfied or dissatisfied they are with local job opportunities, the mix of businesses and services on their high street, study and work spaces like libraries, and family-friendly leisure activities. 

The type of change residents would like to see in the next five years is explored with options to choose including “more skills and employment support from the council”, “more evening/nighttime activities” and “more local workshops to run your business”. 

The consultation will close on Monday, 5th August, with an online workshop set to take place the same day. The deadline to sign up for the last workshop is Saturday, 3rd August.

By attending a workshop residents will be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 shopping voucher. The council said the results would help it achieve its new priorities, as set out in ‘Our Plan for Barnet 2023 to 2026’.

These include “reducing poverty”, “ensuring that residents benefit from growth in the borough”, “delivering safe and attractive neighbourhoods”, reaching net zero targets, and “improving access to the council’s services”.

The council said in a statement: “Barnet wants to refresh its economic development strategy with a new framework that responds to current and future challenges and opportunities and aligns with the priorities outlined in Our Plan for Barnet”.

For more information and to take part in the consultation:
Visit Economic Development Framework engagement | Engage Barnet

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