Waltham Forest Council has committed to a comprehensive review of its policies to ensure greater inclusion for transgender, non-binary, and intersex (TIN) residents. The decision, made during a full council meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2026, follows the passing of a motion put forward by the Green Group.
The motion, titled Trans, Non-Binary, and Intersex Inclusion in Waltham Forest,
passed after a debate that saw differing views expressed by councillors. The approved motion reaffirms the council's commitment to being a Borough of Sanctuary
and to protecting residents from discrimination based on gender reassignment.
Key resolutions from the motion include a commitment to review all relevant council policies, service specifications, and procurement conditions to explicitly affirm protection from discrimination on grounds of gender reassignment. This review is expected to report back to the relevant scrutiny committee within six months, with the Cabinet Member for Equalities tasked with commissioning it.
Furthermore, mandatory trans awareness and inclusion training will be rolled out for all staff and elected members. This training will form part of mandatory equalities training, with the Corporate Director of Culture and Workforce Development ensuring its implementation. The council's HR policies, covering areas such as name, prefix, and pronoun use, facilities access, and dress codes, will also be updated to reflect best practice.
A significant aspect of the motion is the affirmation that self-identification will be sufficient for accessing council services in normal circumstances. However, this principle may not apply when there is a reasonable suspicion of danger to a service user, bystander, or employee, or where a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim is required. The specific criteria for these exceptions are not further detailed.
In terms of infrastructure, new and refurbished council-owned public buildings, leisure centres, and civic spaces will include non-gendered toilet and changing facilities where practicable. The relevant Cabinet Member is instructed to bring forward a report on the feasibility and phasing of retrofitting existing council buildings, though a specific timeline for implementation beyond this report is not yet defined.
The council also pledged to work with NHS partners and Healthwatch Waltham Forest to identify and address healthcare barriers faced by TIN residents. The Director of Public Health and the relevant Cabinet Member will lead this initiative, though specific barriers and concrete actions are not yet detailed.
In a move to advocate for broader change, the council will send a letter to the Minister for Women and Equalities. The Leader of the Council will request the Government to introduce novel positive legislative support for trans and non-binary people
and to confirm that the EHRC Code of Practice is designed to support inclusive service delivery rather than enabling exclusion.
During the debate, Councillor Emma Best raised concerns about the motion's legal standing and suggested a cross-party task and finish group. Councillor Sallis stated she could not support the motion due to concerns about biological sex and safeguarding for women and girls. Conversely, Councillor Aldo argued against the notion that trans women pose a risk in toilets, drawing parallels to historical segregation.
Councillor Dean, who moved the motion, responded to concerns by emphasizing a case-by-case approach and the motion's alignment with the views of women's charities.
The council also agreed to celebrate Trans Day of Visibility across the council.
Further details on the council's agenda and reports can be found on the Waltham Forest Council democracy website:
