Hendon residents' fight to change the worst elements of the Hendon Hub plans continues and our lawyers (retained with your help) have been in "pre-action" correspondence with Barnet's legal team.
We had to challenge Barnet's actions promptly, following the courts' requirements for Judicial Review proceedings, and have focused our fire (at present) on Barnet's failure to conduct itself lawfully and procedurally properly in the lead up to adoption of the Hendon Hub Strategic Planning Document (SPD).
The SPD is a type of blueprint planning document, addressing the Hendon Hub proposals as a whole, and was adopted by the Policy and Resources Committee at the Town Hall Meeting on 20 July 2021. Despite the Minutes of that meeting noting clearly the existence of a vote taken and Resolution made to adopt the SPD, Barnet's formal legal response to our criticisms has claimed that it has not yet adopted the SPD, because it is subject to "minor changes", if necessary, by its Chief Executive, pre-publication.
Barnet's stance on the timing of "adoption" of the SPD has been acknowledged, but not accepted and remains subject to further exchanges with the Council's lawyers.
If no satisfactory response emerges from Barnet in relation to the substance of our criticisms of the SPD, it will be necessary to commence Judicial Review proceedings.
Timing in relation to commencement of a legal challenge is key, which is why it is deeply disappointing that Barnet has chosen to dispute that "adoption" of the SPD has occurred as yet. We would have preferred that they engaged with us swiftly, constructively and credibly, to achieve a negotiated solution. Alas, that hope and expectation was misplaced.
Our team of local residents - which includes lawyers, planning consultants, auditors and academics - are making every effort to ensure that our fight to be heard by Barnet Council continues to be carefully considered and measured, so that not a penny of your hard-earned support money will be wasted.
We must all be clear, however, that pursuing Judicial Review proceedings to hold Barnet accountable is a last resort and does not guarantee success in having the worst elements of the Hendon Hub plans reversed.
That said, it is equally clear that Judicial Review proceedings offer us the only opportunity at this stage to have our arguments assessed independently and rigorously.
If you want us to continue the fight against Barnet on behalf of the Community, please continue to support us with donations for the fighting fund.
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