London Borough of Barnet: local authority assessment

Published: 10 January 2025 Page last updated: 10 January 2025

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Assessment published: 10 January 2025

About London Borough of Barnet

Demographics

The London Borough of Barnet is home to approximately 389,000 residents and is the 2nd largest London Borough by population (Census 2021). Compared to the 2011 Census, in 2021 the borough’s population had grown by 32,900, a rise of 9.2%. This is a larger population growth than the London average of 7.6% and the England average 6.6%. Barnet has an ageing population, between 2011 and 2021 there was an increase of 18% in people aged 65 and over.

Barnet’s diverse population is comprised of 57.7% from a White background, 19.3% from an Asian background, 7.9% from a Black background, 5.4% from a mixed background and 9.8% from other ethnic groups. Jewish people make up 14.5% of the population in Barnet, making Barnet an increasingly ethnically diverse place to live, (Census 2021).

Barnet has an Index of Multiple Deprivation score of 3 (with 10 being the highest and most deprived) and is rated 117th out of 152 local authorities (1st being most deprived).

The Borough is made up of 30 town centres each having its own distinct identity and character.

Barnet is in the North Central London Integrated Care system together with four other London boroughs.

In May 2022 local elections Barnet became a Labour-led council.

Financial facts

The Financial facts for Barnet are:

  • The local authority estimated that in 2022/23, its total budget would be £553,918,000. Its actual spend for that year was £641,203,000, which was £87,285,000 more than estimated.
  • The local authority estimated that it would spend £141,820,000 of its total budget on adult social care in 2022/23. Its actual spend for that year was £146,407,000, which was £4,587,000 more than estimated.
  • In 2022/2023, 23% of the budget was spent on adult social care.
  • The local authority has raised the full adult social care precept for 2023/24, with a value of 2%. Please note that the amount raised through adult social care precept varies from local authority to local authority.
  • Approximately 5445 people were accessing long-term adult social care support, and approximately 2205 people were accessing short-term adult social care support in 2022/23. Local authorities spend money on a range of adult social care services, including supporting individuals. No two care packages are the same and vary significantly in their intensity, duration, and cost.

This data is reproduced at the request of the Department of Health and Social Care. It has not been factored into our assessment and is presented for information purposes only.