Barnet's approach held back by the law

Author: The Times - Jan 5, 2010

A council that made headlines over its plan to provide a no-frills "easyJet" service with top-up charges has been forced to abandon some of its proposals because of legal problems.

Barnet Council has had to drop plans to allow residents to pay a fee to jump the queue with planning applications as this would flout current regulations, The Times has learnt. And, after a High Court judgment last month, the London Tory-run council has had to rethink plans to cut the number of live-in wardens in sheltered housing.

Mike Freer, who stepped down as council leader last week to stand as a Tory parliamentary candidate at the next general election, has pioneered the new approach to give residents a choice about services — in some cases by paying for them.

Lynne Hillan, his successor and former deputy at the council, says she is determined to carry through his proposals, which include incentives for recycling and other top-up fees.

Ms Hillan, who has discussed the plans in depth with the Tory leadership, is now pushing for changes to the law to give councils more flexibility.

She told The Times: "Councils do have powers to impose some charges but there is no flexibility.

"We are now pressing the Tory leadership to introduce new laws if they win power to allow councils to implement their initiatives."

Ms Hillan said that the London Councils group, which represents all 32 London boroughs, was also pressing the Tories to allow authorities more flexibility to pursue innovative plans. She added that the council was considering an appeal against last week’s High Court judgment, which ruled that its plan to cut warden services was illegal.

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