Listening in to @BarnetCouncil Council meeting this evening. Opening with a prayer from Rabbi Berger following the death of Councillor Brian Gordon

Cllr Stock paying tribute to Cllr Gordon, who will be adopting his chosen charity. He is followed by Cllr Dan Thomas who has decided to go low and attack Labour for criticising his appointment as Mayor designate before his death.

Now Cllr Gill Sargent, on behalf of thr Labour group, who appears to be echoing word for word what @rozgab tweeted after the news of his death.

Followed by Cllr Barry Rawlings, who unfortunately has not muted his phone, and is also going party political, mentioning his support for @BarnetLabour stance against antisemitism.

Next up @rozgab who spoke movingly and gives perhaps the most personal and rounded speech. Followed by Cllr Richard Cornelius also speaking well.

Now Cllr Linda Freedman and Cllr Wardle - the latter is speaking very well. Followed by Cllr Dean Cohen, who is a personal friend and ending with Cllr Sachin Rajput, followed by a minutes silence.

Public and councillors being asked to celebrate #RemembranceSunday at home this year.

Questions now. Cllr Rawlings asking Leader to confirm the funding gap between money promised and money spent is £14 million. Dan Thomas saying still counting cost, and that more money in pipeline for future, and some council's have been profligate.

Cllr @rozgab asking what the headlines of the £61 million budget gap plan for next year is, if the full plan is going to be announced in 7 weeks. Cllr Dan Thomas saying no, won't say and haven't decided.

Now Cllr Ross Houston asking for a report to P&R or Council on preparation for a no deal Brexit. Report due in December says Dan Thomas, who describes Brexit as a "nationwide issue" but also that he foresees NO supply chain issues.

Cllr Alan Schneiderman showing a remarkable lack of maths ability in describing 4% of all fly tip incidents being garden waste, as being 4% of all residents are flytipping garden waste.

Cllr Cornelius now refusing to hive any answer at all to @rozgab question of what preparation @BarnetCouncil and @BarnetHomes are making for the surge in homelessness following the end of the ban of evictions

Now @JessicaBrayne asking why Barnet have not assigned a single dedicated member of staff to Brexit preparations (although all the money the Govt has given the Council for this has been used on staff salaries)

Next up @rozgab where and when new cycling infrastructure will be introduced. Don't know says Dan Thomas. Disappointing answer says Cllr Rozenberg.

Next up Ross Houston asking about the issues being caused by adding two storeys to buildings without planning permission. Dan Thomas thinks this policy is great.

Cllr Jajeh asking about crime this year - burglary down, and gun crime, but robbery up, mainly before lockdown. Reply does not mention domestic abuse - which is a striking omission.

Cllr Grocock asking a "timely" supplementary about Finchley Lido - pools will be open on Sat for half term.

Cllr Shooter now saying he is very satisfied at the immense smount of scrutiny on Brent Cross, but perhaps we need to look at green issues through the environment committee. No, we have enough cttees, but do let me have any questions (rather than a holistic green approach)

Cllr Rawlings now talking about the issue of landbanking rather than planning being the issue in lack of housing. No says Cllr Dan Thomas, those poor developers need a quicker system and easier planning. Cheers Dan.

Now presenting the 2019-20 Audit report, which is assessed as reasonable, as opposed to the limited assurance in previous two years, and independent audit was unqualified, unlike last year.

Cllr Alison Moore emphasising imp of audit. Although better, and more support and resources from senior officers shocking thst highways received no assurance and a raft of others had limited assurance, all outsourced Capita.

Next @rozgab - better but only 76% recommendations achieved. Pointing out Covid does not explain this failure, for final month of year. Given budget gap, we need better control. Also saying that Audit is usually chaired by an opposition member, highlighting excellent work of..

..Lord Monroe Palmer of @BarnetLibDems . Invites Cllr Grover go join Lib Dems. Report agreed.

Next up constitutional amendment - each political group can now only make one amendment to each motion in future because our democratic process is apparently a privilege.

@BarnetTories also want to restrict the rights of minority parties to speak along with other restrictions on debate democracy. Cllr Rawlings concerns re emergency decisions.

Cllr @JessicaBrayne concerned that emergency powers are not needed and not time limited. Urgent meetings not difficult to arrange. Democracy is strengthened by debate. @BarnetTories vote for, @BarnetLabour and @BarnetLibDems against. Despicable attack on democracy, again.

Now @BarnetTories now planning to make planning decisions less locally accountable. Cllr Melvin Cohen thinks this is a terrific wheeze. No longer based on the 3 parliamentary wards, with local councillors but with committees covering the whole borough with Tory majority on all.

Cllr Tim Roberts speaking against this, snd the importance of local knowledge and site visits. Apparently the Tories think virtual site visits are better.

Motion of gratitude from Cllr Thomas to council staff and residents for their work and support during the pandemic, and remembering the 450 Barnet residents who have died. Cllr Sara Conway adding to this, but also concerned about the challenges of Winter esp hunger

Motion of gratitude also supported by @JessicaBrayne but an expression of gratitude should go beyond words into action, specifically to support staff with health vulnerabilities currently furloughed. They should not have to choose between their health and livelihood.

Again talking about the practical support with grant applications and lobbying Govt Council shoild be doing. Next up Cllr Sachin Rajput paying credit to staff, careworkers and vol sector.

Barry Rawlings veering off onto Brent Cross plans again, which doesn't seem relevant. Cllr David Longstaff paying tribute to foster carers who had to be teachers, also to schools and then thsnks Cambridge Education, who cancelled their contract with Barnet, for their dedication

Cllr Paul Edwards thanking careworkers and officers for their work during the pandemic and calling that the Council uses it powers of procurement to ensure that careworkers receive the London living wage.

Ross Houston now talking about planning reform which will cut out all local comment by using algorithms and zones with automatic permission. Will result in next gen of slum housing.

Cllr Shimon Ryde responding to the motion makes it an attack on the Mayor of London and pretends the Govt has done nothing. Next up @rozgab talking about ripping up of local democracy. Talking about how changes already made will ensure development in Chandos.

This is currently in Hampstead Garden Suburb and will be Childs Hill at the next election. They will not forget what @BarnetTories have done. Followed by a passionate speech from @BarnetLabour about the imp of dealing with cladding on private develppments.

Cllr Dan Thomas going against Mayor of London, says that the proposed consultation has lots of positive ideas. Doesn't think Chandos Way is a problem. Cllr John Marshall abstaining on all amendments, against the Whip.

@barnetlibdem amendment in name of @rozgab supported by them, re proposals affecting #ChandosWay and @BarnetLabour. Cllr Rawlings calls for a division, so they all call out their votes individually.

Listening to unmuted livestream in background and mad ringtones in the council meeting.

Cllr Clark's amendment supported by @BarnetLabour and asking for a division. "Oh good grief" says a Tory voice. @barnetlibdems "delighted to support the amendment and the call for division". In the meantime Vllr Anthony Finn still has not learned how to unmute

And for the second, or perhaps third time this evening, Cllr Dan Thomas also has dofficulty unmuting, but at least he, unlike Cllr Anthony Finn, who was given two tries, ends up abstaining.

And that's a wrap. Democracy in action. For the record, the low point of the evening was Cllr Melvin Cohen using a reference to slavery to get a rise out of @barnetlabour, and then @barnettories chortling ehen Cllr Rawlings rose to the bait.