Waltham Forest Council has committed to a raft of measures to enhance accessibility across the borough, following significant concerns raised by residents about inclusivity.

Gail Panfold, a Queen's Platinum Champion, directly addressed councillors, urging for improved accessibility and a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by residents with disabilities. She challenged councillors to experience the borough from the perspective of a mobility scooter user, stating, Make our borough more accessible. Ms. Panfold also highlighted the need for more accessible shops and the repair of missing dropped curbs, alongside improving road and pavement conditions.

In response to these concerns, the council has committed to several specific actions. These include commissioning a review of all relevant council policies, service specifications, and procurement conditions to ensure they explicitly affirm protection from discrimination on grounds of gender reassignment, with a report due back to the relevant scrutiny committee within six months. Furthermore, trans awareness and inclusion will become part of mandatory equalities training for all staff and elected members. The council's HR policies, covering aspects like name, prefix, and pronoun use, facilities access, and dress codes, will be updated to reflect best practice.

To facilitate easier access to services, the council will adopt a self-identification policy for users, ensuring that in normal circumstances, self-identification will be sufficient for accessing and using council facilities and services, in compliance with all relevant laws. For public buildings, leisure centres, and civic spaces, all new and refurbished council-owned sites will include non-gendered toilet and changing facilities where practicable, in addition to facilities for disabled individuals. A report on the feasibility and phasing of retrofitting existing council buildings is also to be brought forward.

The council will also work with NHS partners and Healthwatch Waltham Forest to identify and address barriers faced by trans, non-binary, and intersex residents in accessing appropriate healthcare. Additionally, the council encourages the private sector to provide and expand non-gendered safe and private spaces, such as individual lockable rooms for toilets and changing facilities, where appropriate and practical.

Councillor Paul Treacy, Portfolio Lead Member for Communities and Libraries, acknowledged the calls for change, stating, Calls for change are why we're here, and understanding what needs to change, what that change looks like, how we go about making positive change, that's all part of an ongoing conversation. He confirmed that In the coming months, we'll be engaging with residents and partners across Waltham Forest to invite their reflections, suggestions and aspirations for the future of the borough.

Regarding the condition of roads and pavements, Peter Heatherley, representing the Drysdale and District Residents Association and Chingford Residents Association, drew attention to the very dilapidated and disintegrating pavements in the Drysdale area, which are causing a high incidence of trips and falls. While small areas are patched when reported, he stressed that the whole area needs to be addressed.

Councillor Umar Ali also raised concerns about the poor conditions of a number of roads and pavements that do not appear on this year's programme. Councillor Paul Perkins responded that the Highway Maintenance Programme uses a risk-based approach, considering factors such as inspection grades, surface condition, accident history, proximity to sensitive locations like schools and hospitals, coordination with other traffic management schemes, and public complaints. He reassured that the council will be looking at pavement priorities within the constraints of available resources and will continue to review the existing criteria on an ongoing basis.

In a direct response to Ms. Panfold's challenge, Councillor Paul Treacy confirmed that the leader, Councillor Perkins, has agreed to a mobility scooter ride along with Ms. Panfold, and he himself will also participate. So I look forward to it, he added.

This commitment to action follows discussions at a council meeting, the agenda for which can be found here. The minutes of previous meetings are available here, and the public reports pack for the meeting is accessible here.