FUTURE Shaping will go ahead, after Barnet Council's cabinet voted unanimously to pursue the concept.

The plans to turn Barnet into a “no frills” council have been dubbed EasyCouncil, because of its premise that people would get the basic or “core services”, but then would choose to pay extra for other council services, or “frills”.

Council leader Mike Freer declared the results would be the future of all councils in England at the meeting in Hendon Town Hall in The Burroughs, Hendon on Wednesday.

Mr Freer said the current system was not working, especially in the current economic circumstances.

But he said he wanted to reassure residents that the plans would not lead to a reduction in services.

“This is not about the dismantling of the public sector. This is about making sure that the public sector services the residents and citizens of this borough,” he said.

“The current model simply can't deliver the ever increasing demand on services.

The council hopes Future Shaping will save up to £15 million a year, but Mr Freer said that was not the only reason for the plan.

“The real push is about changing people's lives for the better,” he added.

He talked about a move towards “one Barnet” where people would have a “mentor” to guide them through council services instead of being registered with several different departments at once, thus cutting out administration and saving money.

Councillors also want to simplify and improve customer service.

“It's quite depressing how many hoops we expect people to jump through to access customer services,” he said.

The council wants to go further yet, envisioning a central authority for residents which would encompass health and council services.

Mr Freer said this would stop duplication of services and the “argy bargy” of arguments with NHS Barnet over which care should be provided by which authority.

Central to the Future Shaping plan is a desire to “break the cycle” of dependency on council services by more disadvantaged residents, who are increasing in the borough.

“The current model is simply broken. We continue to pour money to keep people in poverty, keeping people in poor housing, keeping people in poor health.”

However, some members of the public at the meeting remained sceptical.

“Are you sure that this is actually the relationship residents want to have with Barnet Council?” asked Vicky Morris.

“We have the right to be asked questions more than once every five years.

“It would help if you decided whether we are citizens or customers.

“Where people live in an area, we don't have a chance to shop around.”