Leader listens is the official blog of Mike Freer, Leader of Barnet Council

As leader of the council, I have been inviting local residents to meet me out around the borough and away from the usual Town Hall committee rooms since 2006.

Known as ‘Leader Listens’, I invite every resident in the community (by ward area) to come along to meet me at a meeting in a venue near you. The meeting is an opportunity for anyone to air their views, whether its something they want to change in their area, something that is concerning them – or even to give someone a pat on the back!

All comments made at the meetings are captured and acted on. Notes of the meeting are posted on the council’s website and are also posted out to all residents in the ward with comments and actions against each so that everyone attending the meeting (and even those who couldn’t) get to hear back on the outcomes of the meeting.

This blog allows me to widen out this conversation even further. While getting out and about in the borough is a start, I recognise that this may still not be convenient for everyone. By posting highlights from each meeting on this blog, along with the notes and actions following up from the meeting, I hope to give all residents the opportunity to hear from me as well as your neighbours and even get involved after the event by posting your thoughts on the discussion after the event.