A councillor has made a plea to clean up what she called the borough’s “shocking” council estates.

Cllr Sara Conway (Labour, Burnt Oak) said people were living in “appalling conditions” on some of the borough’s estates and called for urgent action to tackle the problems.

The Burnt Oak councillor urged Barnet Homes, the police and other stakeholders to work together to combat “urgent issues around crime, public safety, anti-social behaviour, building repairs, environmental crime, health and social care support”.

Cllr Conway made the plea in a member’s item at a meeting of the housing and growth committee on Monday (March 16).

Speaking at the meeting, she said: “I’ve been on a lot of the estates recently – Belle Vue, Grahame Park, Marsh Drive, my own ones in Burnt Oak. I think there is a lack of join-up of all the key stakeholders.”

Cllr Conway called on the council to “show leadership” and engage with residents on the estates.

She read out a statement from someone living at the Grahame Park Estate in Colindale who claimed decisions are often taken “over people’s heads” without residents being listened to properly.

The resident called for more transparency and clarity over how to report issues such as fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour and security problems.

Cllr Conway proposed a “review and an action plan” that would include “a programme for effective community engagement and response”.

Committee chairman Cllr Richard Cornelius (Conservative, Totteridge) did not fully support Cllr Conway’s proposals.

But he said he would be “minded to support a look at the governance mechanism to establish if there is a problem that needs to be dealt with”.

Cllr Cornelius explained there were regular residents’ meetings on the estates and there was a need to ensure they were working properly.

He added: “I’ve spoken to the team at Barnet Homes, and they are broadly supportive of a look at Barnet Homes’ involvement.”

Committee members gave their backing to Cllr Cornelius’ proposal.