Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Stephanos Ioannou (who was substituted by Cllr Tom O’Halloran), Cllr Patricia Gregory (who was substituted by Cllr Adrian Grumi), Cllr Ruby Sampson (who was substituted by Cllr Alessandro Georgiou), Cllr Hannah Dyson, Cllr Hivran Dalkaya, Cllr Gina Needs, Cllr Rick Jewell, Sujeevan Ponnampalam (Prevent Programme Manager), Lucy Nasby (Policy & Performance Manager) and Tim Fellows (Enfield LGBT Network).

Members of the Board are invited to identify any disclosable pecuniary, other pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests relevant to the items on the agenda.

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

To receive and agree the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 2 December 2024.

AGREED the minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2024.

To receive the report of Sujeevan Ponnampalam (Prevent Programme Manager) and Jonathon Toy (Head of Community Safety).

Jonathan Toy, Head of Community Safety introduced this item providing an update on Hate Crime within the borough. The report details the processes for how Hate Crime is managed and how a range of organisations, faith based, and community groups are involved to support this work. Particular attention was drawn to the Hate Crime Forum and Multi Faith Forum, and the strong representation on both Forums. There has been a small reduction in Hate Crime in the last 12 months, this is broken down by type within the agenda report. There has been an increase in antisemitic Hate Crime since international events of October 2023 and the council is working closely with partners to address this. International challenges are monitored. In regard to how this impacts communities in Enfield. Attention was also drawn to the amount of education work that the Prevent officer has undertaken in schools, further details are contained within the report.

Comments and questions were then invited from the Board.

Officers confirmed that the prevent work in schools will continue, recruitment is on course for this role.

Following a query on how many of the 577 recorded incidents of racist/religious crime detailed within the report were antisemitic. Officers confirmed that these figures could be provided.

         ACTION: Jonathon Toy

Members were surprised to note that the report states that antisemitic crime has slightly decreased, this was explained as coming down from the very significant increase in October, November and December 2023. Following on from this it was queried if the figures from 2022 and 2024 were compared would there be an increase. Jonathan Toy advised that analysis could be done and provided to the Board.

         ACTION: Jonathan Toy

Following a query on whether the Jewish community may choose not to report antisemitic crime, officers confirmed that there is a huge amount of effort to allow people to notify authorities of this crime. A lot of this work involves visiting the faith organisations within the borough, with officers feeling there is a strong network within Enfield.

Members felt it would be helpful to understand who the perpetrators are, unfortunately this information is not always recorded and available.

To receive the report of Jonathan Toy, Head of Community Safety.

Jonathan Toy, Head of Community Safety introduced this item. Violence against women and girls is one of the biggest priorities within the Safer Stronger Communities agenda. Not only is this a priority in terms of issues and challenges, and volume, but also looking at some of the background of people who have experienced adversity and trauma becoming involved with vulnerabilities.

The Violence against Women and Girls Strategy is currently being refreshed. It should be noted that whilst the focus on domestic abuse is often within families there are wider issues such as street harassment and sexual harassment on social media.

The Public Health Violence Protection Model will be used as detailed in 2.6 of the agenda report. There is a strategic group who will be overseeing this work, and also a Domestic Violence Operational Group. Some of the different groups represented are detailed under 2.11 of the agenda report.

The report contains a breakdown of the data with some analysis. There has been a reduction of reported incidents, however it is important to ensure that this is a reduction in actual cases and not a lack of confidence in reporting. There will be a focus within the strategy on the big reduction of reporting within the Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic communities and how this can be addressed. It was expressed that this is not a real reduction and there is a need to explore how this is addressed.

Domestic Homicide Reviews are covered under section 2.19 through to 2.21 in the agenda report. This can also include suicide. This has shown some challenges such as the gender bias, mental health, culture, faith and family dynamics including honour-based violence.

Comments and questions were then invited from the Board.

Following a query, it was confirmed that domestic violence does occur within same sex relationships but in relatively small numbers.

Concern was expressed on changing attitudes towards women within communities, feeling that there is sometimes a lack of respect. It was expressed that young girls themselves accept this position and do not or are unable to stand up for themselves. Misogyny in schools was also raised as a concern. Officers advised that there is a lot of work going into schools on misogyny in terms of safe and healthy relationships. It was noted that a report has come out today on the attitudes of young men in Gen Z believing that the focus on women’s rights has gone too far. It was felt that the Prevent work undertaken in schools is very helpful on this issue.

There was a significant drop off of reporting between 2023 and 2024, was this believed to be a hangover from COVID. There had been increases during the COVID period, however there is still concern on the reductions in reporting. It was also noted that the MARAC cases (which are the high-risk cases) have also gone down, which was not expected; more work is being undertaken to understand why this is the case.

An observation was made on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To receive the report of Glenn Stewart, Assistant Director of Public Health.

Glenn Stewart, Assistant Director of Public Health introduced this item. The report highlights the extent of health inequalities across the borough and the plan to tackle this. The report outlined the differences between the east and west of the borough, including life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. The wider determinants and their impacts are detailed under no 4 in the report, and the commissioned services under number 6. The report also covers smoking, mental health and Healthy High Streets. The actions being taken are detailed within the report under the headings Good Food Retail, Healthier Catering Commitments, Urban Food Growing Project, Albany Park, Family Hubs, Oral Health, Immunisation and screening and other activities.

Comments and questions were then invited from the Board.

Discussions were held on monitoring of the metrics supporting the achievement of public health commitments. Officers advised that much of the data is published under Public Health England. It was acknowledged that it is hard to prove a negative and that public health is a long-term gain. Examples were discussed of reduced numbers of those smoking and the number of those taking part in Beat the Street with their feedback responses before and after attending.

It was confirmed that the Good Food Retail Scheme will be continuing. Concern was expressed on the number of takeaways particularly near schools, although it was noted that is not something that the council can control.

Members were pleased to note suicide prevention is working well, with Enfield having one of the lowest rates in the county.

Concern was raised on inequality of access to GP services for those who are digitally excluded. This issue was acknowledged, and it was noted that not all GP services require residents to use the internet to book appointments.

To receive the report of Lucy Nasby, Policy and Performance Manager.

Tinu Olowe, Director of Human Resources & Organisational Development, introduced this item and Saskia Morris, Policy & Performance Officer, delivered a presentation. The current policy runs from 2021-2025, with the Draft Consultation launched on the 10^th March and runs to the 7^th April. Consultation will include involvement from internal colleagues and external organisations. The 6 objectives in the new draft strategy are listed under number 3 in the agenda report and number 4 in the report details how these objectives have been identified.

Feedback for the consultation is being sought on; whether there is a need to make any changes to the draft policy; whether anything is missing from the draft policy and are there any ideas that can be shared on how the council can best deliver on the draft key goals.

Comments and questions were then invited from the Board.

A comment was made on whether decision making takes the comments from EQIA Statements into account.

Discussions were then held on the diversity of the Councils workforce, and it was confirmed that this relates to the balance of all 8 protected characteristics, The makeup of the community should be reflected across the council at all levels and there are action plans to help achieve this.

Under each of the 6 objectives there will be detailed actions listed covering what it means to achieve each objective. There will be reviews both mid-year and end of year reviews of each objective.

The Chair thanked all those in attendance for their time and contributions.

To note the completion of the Work Programme for 2024/25 and that the Equalities Board Work Programme for 2025/26 will be discussed at the first meeting of the new municipal year.

NOTED the completion of the Work Programme for 2024/25 and that the Equalities Board Work Programme for 2025/26 will be discussed at the first meeting of the new municipal year.

To note the dates of the future meetings will be confirmed following Annual Council on Wednesday 14 May 2025.

NOTED the dates of future meetings will be confirmed following Annual Council on Wednesday 14 May 2025.