The Equalities Board of Enfield Council met on Monday 23 March 2026 to discuss voluntary community services and housing inequality. The Board agreed the minutes of the previous meeting and noted the completion of the 2025/26 work programme.

Voluntary Community Services

Andrew Lawrence, Head of Commissioning for Children, Young People and Public Health, presented a report on the council's commissioning arrangements with voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations. The report highlighted that the council focuses on supporting the equality agenda through contractual performance management, rather than traditional grants, with key performance indicators used to ensure value for money and support for statutory duties. The Board noted the importance of the voluntary sector's contributions to community support and acknowledged ongoing efforts to strengthen these partnerships. Councillor Ruby Sampson declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item as she volunteers for Age UK Enfield.

Housing Inequality in Enfield

Kayt Wilson, Director of Homelessness and Supported Housing, provided an update on housing inequality in Enfield, detailing progress made since the Property and Equality Commission. The report indicated that the Housing Advisory Service has increasingly focused on preventing homelessness. It was noted that Black families are disproportionately represented among homeless households, largely due to evictions, with Section 21 notices being a significant factor, although these are set to be phased out. The borough currently has over 3,000 households in temporary accommodation, with approximately 500 new homeless approaches each month.

The report also addressed issues related to the overrepresentation of households in the private rented sector, challenges with empty homes, and efforts to expedite the re-occupation of properties. Board members raised questions regarding the reasons for this overrepresentation, which is thought to be linked to the higher number of tenancies in the private rented sector. Concerns were also voiced about the support provided to marginalised groups, such as the Gypsy Roma Traveller (GRT) community. In response, it was confirmed that a dedicated officer is working with support groups to improve outreach to this community. The Board requested clarification on the number of homes at Maldon Road and Meridian Water and the number of empty homes in the borough.

Work Programme

The Board noted the completion of the Work Programme for 2025/26 and that the Equalities Board Work Programme for 2026/27 would be discussed at the first meeting of the new municipal year.

Date of Next Meeting

The dates of future meetings were noted as being confirmed following Annual Council on Wednesday 27 May 2026.