The Equalities Board was scheduled to meet to discuss proposed changes to its terms of reference, receive an update on Fairer Enfield, and note the work programme for 2025/26. The board was also expected to agree the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 July 2025 and note the dates of future meetings.

Fairer Enfield Policy 2026-30

The Equalities Board was scheduled to receive an update on the refreshed Fairer Enfield policy. The draft policy was scheduled for approval at November Cabinet and Council meetings.

The purpose of the Fairer Enfield policy is to show how Enfield Council will work with residents, staff and partners to make Enfield a fairer place for everyone. The policy outlines the council's commitment to promoting equality, celebrating diversity and ensuring everyone feels included. The policy also highlights six key objectives, which are focus areas where the council is taking action to reduce inequality in the borough.

The report pack included the Draft Fairer Enfield Equalities Board Cover Report, Appendix 1 Draft Fairer Enfield Policy 202630, Appendix 2 EqIA Draft Fairer Enfield Policy and Appendix 3 - Annual-equalities-report-2024-to-2025.

The draft policy includes six equality objectives:

• Make sure equality and inclusion are central to how the borough grows and develops.
• Work with health partners to identify and address inequalities, focusing on prevention.
• Take action to reduce serious youth violence in Enfield.
• Enhance the diversity of the council's workforce so it reflects the community at all levels.
• Provide services that are easy to access and respond to people's needs, tackling inequality and exclusion.
• Make equality, diversity, and inclusion part of everyday practice to better reflect the community's needs.

The report pack included a summary of the consultation that was undertaken on the draft Fairer Enfield Policy. The consultation included presentations to the Equalities Board, Staff Network Forum, Older People's Partnership Board, Learning Disabilities Partnership Board, Voluntary Sector Strategy Group and the Over 50's Forum. It also included online consultation questionnaires.

The key findings from this consultation were summarised by theme:

Make sure equality and inclusion are central to how we grow and develop the borough

In the standard questionnaire, 67% of respondents said that they agree with the objective, 14% said they neither agree nor disagree and 19% said that they disagree. Some respondents highlighted the importance of equal access to services, such as housing and education, and of engaging with different protected groups as part of decision-making, including older people, disabled people and people whose first language is not English. Some respondents also spoke about the importance of ensuring that regeneration benefits the existing local communities and includes social housing.

Work with health partners to identify and address inequalities, focusing on prevention

In the standard questionnaire, 78% of respondents said that they agree with the objective, 8% said they neither agree nor disagree and 14% said that they disagree. Respondents spoke about the importance of understanding local health inequalities, working with partners and learning from feedback, and ensuring that health services are accessible to all residents across the borough. One respondent spoke about the importance of ensuring that annual health checks are carried out for people with learning disabilities. Respondents also highlighted non-clinical interventions to improve health and wellbeing, such as community mental health support, independence models for older people, and interventions to reduce air pollution.

Take action to reduce serious youth violence in Enfield

In the standard questionnaire, 94% of respondents said that they agree with the objective, 3% said they neither agree nor disagree and 3% said that they disagree. Respondents collectively wished to create a safer and more supportive environment for the youth and community as a whole by suggesting additional community police patrols, youth activities and training programmes. Respondents also highlighted the importance of collaborating with residents, education, police, youth representatives and those affected by violence to develop interventions.

Enhance the diversity of our workforce so it reflects the community at all levels

In the standard questionnaire, 64% of respondents said that they agree with the objective, 22% said they neither agree nor disagree and 15% said that they disagree. Respondent's feedback focused on promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workforce while ensuring that recruitment and employment practices are based on merit and competence. Some respondents spoke about the importance ensuring that the council's senior leaders and Councillors are representative of the borough's population. One respondent said that the council should encourage local employers to recruit those with disabilities and provide support and training to ensure that disabled people remain in employment.

Provide services that are easy to access and respond to people's needs, tackling inequality and exclusion

In the standard questionnaire, 81% of respondents said that they agree with the objective, 11% said they neither agree nor disagree and 8% said that they disagree. Respondents spoke about the need for council services to be accessible, including prompt responses to phone calls, emails and an accessible website. Some respondents raised specific concerns about ensuring that Council services are accessible for disabled and older people.

Make equality, diversity, and inclusion part of everyday practice to better reflect the community's needs

In the standard questionnaire, 61% of respondents said that they agree with the objective, 17% said they neither agree nor disagree and 18% said that they disagree. Respondents spoke about the need for training for officers and partners, introducing quality assurance mechanisms and consulting with different protected groups to inform decision making.

Following the consultation, officers made the following changes to the draft policy:

• In the priority to 'work with health partners to identify and address inequalities', the policy includes how the council will support Enfield residents to age well, by focusing on mitigating risks of increasing dependency, provoked by catastrophic events such as falls and preventable infections.
• Clarification to the text makes clear that the council wants to attract a diverse talent pool and recruit based on competence.
• In the priority to 'provide services that are easy to access and respond to people's needs', the policy includes the action to provide digital training to help improve resident's digital skills and confidence, as well as emphasising that the council wants all residents to be able to easily access its services.

The equality objectives are allocated to a lead director who will oversee the delivery of each objective. Progress made towards achieving the equalities objectives will be assessed annually by the Executive Management Team. The Equalities Board is the forum by which the council can oversee and scrutinise its processes to eliminate discrimination and promote equality, diversity and inclusion. The council will present its progress towards achieving the Fairer Enfield policy to the Board annually.

Equalities Board Terms of Reference

The Equalities Board was scheduled to agree proposed changes to its Terms of Reference. The Equalities Board is the forum by which the council can oversee its processes to eliminate discrimination on the protected characteristics¹.

The protected characteristics under the Equalities Act 2010 are:

• age
• disability
• gender identity
• marriage and civil partnership
• pregnancy and maternity
• race
• religion or belief
• gender
• sexual orientation
• care experienced individuals

The Equalities Board's terms of reference include:

• To monitor the council's performance against current equality legislation.
• To act as a consultative and advisory body with regard to the development of new policies/initiatives and to actively support such initiatives.
• To raise awareness of the specific needs of service users in terms of service delivery.
• To provide a sounding board for any initiative or proposal that the council is making and how they may affect the protected characteristics either directly or indirectly.
• To provide a better understanding of equalities in order to gain knowledge, and to promote awareness and encourage mutual respect.
• To encourage the council to recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce that reflects the make-up of the local population and work toward that vision.
• To encourage the council support to staff in a manner that motivates them and makes them feel secure in their working environment.
• To analyse data and information gained from monitoring, impact assessments and general consultation activity to inform priorities and future practice.
• To consider workforce equalities and diversity matters referred to it by the Director of Law and Governance, Human Resources, Audit & Risk Management

Work Programme 2025/26

The Equalities Board was scheduled to note the Work Programme for 2025/26. The following topics were agreed for the Equalities Board Work Programme 2025/26:

• Fairer Enfield
• Domestic Abuse
  • To update the board on domestic abuse in the borough and the positive effects from Housing Policy.
• Access to GP's & Pharmacies
  • To update the board on work being done to tackle health inequalities and getting better access to GP's and Pharmacies.
• Monitoring Report on Hate Crime in Enfield
• Voluntary Community Services
  • To provide the board with an overview of the voluntary community services the Council commissions
• Housing Inequality in Enfield including asylum seekers
  • Update the board on the level of inequality in housing which includes residents who are asylum seekers.