Seven priorities for Enfield
The new Council Plan is built around seven main ambitions:
But what does that actually mean on the ground?
Among the commitments are plans to tackle fly-tipping, improve waste and recycling services, protect green spaces, invest in council housing, prioritise brownfield regeneration, work with partners to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour, improve roads and pavements, support employment and help residents facing cost-of-living pressures.
Some changes are already starting
Residents will already recognise some of the decisions connected with this new direction.
The Council recently approved proposals for 30 minutes of free parking in town centres, while it has also withdrawn from the New Towns Programme and says it wants to prioritise brownfield development and protect the borough’s Green Belt.
Proposals to bring back weekly bin collections are also due to be considered in the coming months.
How will residents know whether it is working?
This is perhaps one of the most important parts.
A plan is only useful if residents can see whether the promises within it are actually being delivered.
Enfield Council says progress will be monitored through a new performance framework, with residents receiving annual updates on progress against the plan. At the Full Council debate, councillors also said performance metrics would be reported quarterly.
That gives residents something tangible to come back to over the next four years.
At Love Your Doorstep, we’ll continue doing what we always do, listening to what residents are experiencing on the ground and keeping our community informed about changes that affect them.
Watch the debate for yourself
The new plan was discussed at a Full Council meeting on Wednesday 16 September before being formally adopted. Conservative councillors voted in favour, while Labour and Green councillors abstained. During the debate, opposition councillors raised questions including the level of detail in the plan, performance measurement, climate commitments and violence against women and girls.
Rather than us telling you what to think about the debate, you can watch the Full Council meeting yourself and hear directly from councillors on all sides.
I’d embed/link the YouTube meeting immediately here with a big WATCH THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING button.
What matters to you?
Ultimately, residents will judge the plan by what changes they actually see in their own streets and neighbourhoods.
Cleaner streets? Fewer fly-tips? Safer neighbourhoods? Better roads and pavements? Thriving high streets? More reliable services?
These are issues our community talks about every single week.
We’ll keep following the commitments over the coming months and sharing updates as they move from plans on paper to changes residents can see.
