with horiz pic to come

by BILL MONTGOMERY

A new centre in Barnet to support the homeless and young unemployed is to be the mayor's charity for the coming year.

This was the first announcement made by Gill Sargeant following her election as mayor at Tuesday's annual meeting of Barnet Council.

Safe Start is a national scheme which offers housing advice together with employment and training services. It is intended to open a centre for this work in Cricklewood.

Mrs Sargeant is a Labour councillor who has represented Colindale since 1994. Her father is Robert Sheldon MP.

Away from the town hall she is a management consultant.

Fellow Labour councillor Ansuya Sodha will be the deputy mayor.

Labour leader Alan Williams was elected for his seventh term as leader of the council.

Mr Williams said the administration would be pressing ahead with the 'democratic renewal' of the council, including modernising its structures.

A feature of the coming year will be widespread consultation as the council prepares its community plan for the borough.

Another major project will be aimed at improving equality for all groups.

Conservative leader Liz Mammatt was elected as the leader of the opposition.

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Mayor Gill Sargeant