The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Greer and Councillor De Silva. Councillor Lindsay Rawlings was substituting for Councillor De Silva.

There were no declarations of interest registered in respect of any items on the agenda.

To agree the minutes from the Equalities Board meeting on the 7^th September 2021.

AGREED the minutes of the last meeting held on the 7^th September 2021 subject to the following amendment:

(i)            Page 8 (1) should read The Proud North London Trust

To update the Board on how the Council is providing affordable family-sized homes to buy and rent.

RECEIVED the report of Joanne Drew, Director of Housing & Regeneration, a copy of which is attached to the agenda.

NOTED:

(i)            The report provides an update on provision of affordable family sized homes to buy and rent within the Council’s direct delivery programme.

(ii)          The Council aims to build 3,500 affordable homes by 2035 with a target to deliver 40% family sized homes (i.e. homes with 3 bedrooms or more) across the Housing Development Programme.

(iii)         This comes after the borough’s 2019 Local Housing Need Assessment (LHNA) highlighted a 42% shortfall in three-bedroom rented homes. In addition, the highest demand among households on the waiting list for council housing is for three bedroomed homes.

(iv)         The provision of good quality 3 bedroom or larger homes will create the home environment families need to aspire and thrive throughout their lifetime.

(v)          Previous reports considered by Cabinet and Council in February 2019 and January 2020 recognised the role the Council can play in increasing housing supply in the borough – both in its role of directly delivering new build homes (or acquiring them for affordable rent) and in enabling the delivery of homes by housing associations , developers and private landlords.

(vi)         Delivery of affordable family sized homes is an area where intervention is required if the Council is to meet its commitment to create a lifetime of opportunity.

(vii)        A summary of the family homes currently being progressed through the Council’s 2016-23 programme is attached at Appendix 1 of the agenda.

(viii)       The Council, through its Housing Development Programme, is on track to deliver more family homes to meet the needs of Enfield residents. However, funding remains a real barrier to accelerating supply to meet ever growing need.

Following Joanne’s update the following comments/questions were raised.

·         Joanne explained that the rents from social and affordable homes were not enough to pay for the costs of building them, so the authority needed grants from the Government or Greater London Authority (GLA) to fund them. She added that family homes cost more to build per unit than one and two-beds, so there isn’t enough grant to enable a whole scheme to be built out viably.

·         Joanne went on to say that schemes are always a compromise between what the Council would like to do, which is as much affordable housing as possible, and what can be afforded. So, schemes are balanced up with smaller units to make them viable recognising that there is also a demand for these homes including from downsizers.

·         In response to a question from Cllr Georgiou about the report’s connection to Equalities, Joanne explained that the majority of residents in temporary accommodation were from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. She added that the housing waiting list had a higher percentage of residents with disabilities and critical housing needs of different complexities and this is the same across London. Joanne added that at least 10% of the homes built by the Council will be fully wheelchair adaptable and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

RECEIVED the report of Peter George, Director-Meridian water, a copy of which is attached to the agenda.

NOTED

(i)            The report updates the Board on the progress to date towards delivering the Council’s target of 10,000 homes and 6,000 jobs at Meridian Water.

(ii)          Meridian Water is a key component in contributing to the vision, aims and priorities of the Council’s Corporate Plan. This includes:

·         Good homes in well-connected neighbourhoods;

·         Safe, healthy and confident communities;

·         An economy that works for everyone.

(iii)         Meridian Water Aims & aspirations include:

·         Highest quality of design and place-making throughout;

·         New facilities to include restaurants, schools, community facilities, parks, health, leisure and culture.

(iv)         A residential update was provided detailing progress made to date on delivering the four sites at Meridian Water that has received Cabinet authority to proceed: Meridian 1-4. (please refer to Appendix 1: page 23 of the agenda for a plan of Meridian 1-4).

(v)          Discussions took place on the strength in diversity aspect of the programme including:

·         Promoting public sector values via procurement;

·         Insisting sub-contractors achieve 50% BAME and 50% females at a partner level plus Edmonton company;

·         Investment in scholarship/future generation;

·         Design future procurements to promote SME/diverse frameworks;

·         Encourage public sector partners to adopt a similar approach

(vi)         An employment update was also provided which covered details on the required outcomes. These included:

·         Create 6,000 permanent, high quality jobs of which no less than 25% will be from local labour;

·         Deliver 1,000 new high-quality jobs through Meanwhile Employment Uses on land intended for redevelopment, where possible rehoming these businesses within the new development;

·         Enabling local Enfield employers to supply meridian Water starting with its construction, with no less than 10% of all investment benefiting local employers;

·         Deliver 1,000 construction jobs, sustained over 25 years, of which no less than 25% will be from local labour.

(vii)        Meridian Water Enfield Construction Skills Academy will train up to 500 people a year giving them skills to gain a meaningful career in construction. Designs for the Skills Academy have progressed, and planning permission has been granted. Procurement of the Skills Academy Operator commenced in August with selection likely to be completed early 2022. The Skills Academy is due to be delivered late 2022.

(viii)       The Council has also entered a partnership with Troubadour Theatres which has delivered three film studios at Meridian Water with three more to be delivered by 2023. Troubadour also plan to deliver a skills academy for the film industry in 2023. This will provide sector-based training in technical roles associated with film production with a target of training up to 450 roles per annum. This Academy will work with an Higher Educational partner to deliver recognised industry qualifications.

Following Peter’s update, the following comments and questions were raised:

·         Vistry have appointed a local firm to deliver Groundworks on Meridian 1a. This is a significant piece of work and great news for the local economy. Vistry is also performing well on levels of local, female and Black, Asian and ethnic minority  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To update the Board on proposals in the draft Local Plan.

RECEIVED a copy of the report of May Hope, Plan Making Manager, a copy of which is attached to the agenda.

The following information was highlighted:

(i)            The council is in the process of preparing a new local plan for Enfield. This report provides an update to the Board on the equalities impact of the draft Local Plan (ELP).

(ii)          It is a statutory requirement for all Councils to prepare a Local Plan and ensure that it is up to date. Enfield’s current Local Plan includes a Core Strategy published in 2010 and a Development Management Document published in 2014: as both are older than five years they are required to be reviewed.

(iii)         Preparing a new Local Plan provides the council with an opportunity to set out a positive vision for growth, ensuring that appropriate facilities and infrastructure are provided for future residents. It is a vitally important tool for helping the council deliver its corporate priorities and delivering the spatial elements of the council’s corporate plan.

(iv)         When preparing Local Plans, the Equalities Act 2010 requires the council to:

·         Consider all individuals when shaping policy;

·         Eliminate discrimination;

·         Advance equality of opportunity;

·         Foster good relations between different people when carrying out their activities.

(v)          This public sector duty is an important task to be carried out during all stages of the Enfield Local Plan preparation.

(vi)         The Local Plan has also ben subject to Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA). The Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) ensures equalities are addressed by considering the protected characteristics.

(vii)        The Enfield Local Plan (ELP) includes long term planning framework for the borough up to 2039. The Plan will have a significant impact on the lives of those who live and work or visit the borough. Important choices will be made between competing demands and seeks to address inequalities, but policies need to be assessed for unintended consequences for equality issues.

(viii)       Plan preparation stated in 2015 and includes engagement with voluntary bodies at each stage, which represents the interests of different racial or national groups, religious bodies, bodies which represent the interests of disables persons, Enfield Youth Parliament, young people and students. EqIA assessments have also been completed at all stages.

(ix)         Information was provided on addressing inequalities through the vision and strategic objectives of the ELP. Four key themes of the ELP vision are:

·         A nurturing place;

·         A deeply green place;

·         Workshop of London;

·         Distinct and leading part of London.

(x)          Detailed strategic objectives address many equalities matters. These translated into objectives informing IIA and the EqIA.

(xi)         Further information was provided on the ELP policies on disability, age, race, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity and marriage and civil partnerships.

(xii)        There are no specific policies for addressing religion or belief. However, Policy BG10 deals with space for burials and cremation and addresses the needs of different faith groups and the needs of diverse communities.

(xiii)       Equalities issues have helped underpin the development of the ELP policies. Many policies are designed to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To update the Board on actions, in our Fairer Enfield Policy, to keep people safe from domestic abuse.

RECEIVED the report of Andrea Clemons, Head of Community Safety and Julie Tailor, Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator, a copy of which is attached to the agenda,

NOTED:

(i)            The report provides an update on the sections within the Fairer Enfield Policy which relates to Tackling Domestic Abuse and Violence against Women and Girls and provides assurance that the requirements of the policy are being progressed.

(ii)          Updates were provided against each element and full details of these are included in the report.

(iii)         Progress has been made in ensuring that local services designed to tackle domestic abuse support all communities and are easily accessible

(iv)         The Enfield Domestic Abuse Hub was launched on the 1st May last year in response to concerns over increasing domestic abuse incidents during the Covid-19 pandemic. Its helpline continues to operate during weekdays between 9am and 5pm.

(v)          The hub had improved the service provided to those contacting it. It has received 242 contacts since its launch and the council aims to keep it running beyond the end of the pandemic.

(vi)         During the last two years the Council has also set up a scheme to encourage perpetrators to change their behaviour and used communication campaigns aimed at preventing abuse by challenging the attitudes that foster it.

(vii)        Demand for services had been higher during the Covid-19 pandemic and delivery had at times been more difficult.

(viii)       The Council had secured a share of around £300,000 from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and crime (MOPAC) to continue its perpetrators programme after a successful pilot, following a joint funding bid alongside Barnet and Brent Councils.

(ix)         The project, set to run until July next year, allows perpetrators of abuse to voluntarily access a programme to help them change their behaviour, rather than doing so in response to a court ruling. The idea is to work with perpetrators from communities which may be marginalised for a variety of reasons and will also work in an intersectional way with the families to make sure that domestic abuse is being addressed in an appropriate way as well as recognising some of the pressures that may exist in terms of gender, culture or other factors.

(x)          Recent communications campaigns also included a project run with Enfield Youth Parliament. This focused on challenging inappropriate behaviour and has been shared on social media platforms.

Following Andrea’s update, the following comments/questions were raised:

·         Responding to a question from Cllr Rawlings, Andrea said that the council also had access to a helpline for male victims of domestic abuse.

·         Cllr Orhan asked how the council could identify and help ‘invisible’ groups of people who were not speaking out about the abuse they faced because they were fearful of coming forward, perhaps because people would not listen or believe them. Andrea said that it was important to repeat the message that people could be confident that help is available for them. Adding that many women may be frightened to leave abusive relationships, she stressed the importance of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To note the Equalities Board Draft Forward Plan for 2021/22

NOTED the Equalities Board Draft Forward Plan for 2021/22.

To note that the next Equalities Board meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 8 February 2022.

NOTED and agreed the date of the next Equality Board meeting as follows:

Tuesday 8^th February 2022