Agenda item

To receive and consider the recommendations of the Cabinet (Minute 543c) as an amendment to the following Notice of Motion submitted previously to the Council by Councillor Wright and referred thereto in accordance with Standing Order 8(2), namely 

This Council welcomes the peaceful protests against the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer, including those organised in Barnstaple, Ilfracombe, Exeter and Plymouth - and the way these have brought to light how this much of this country's wealth was built on slavery and other racial oppression.

This Council acknowledges the recent further pain caused to the BAME community, by the Windrush Scandal.

This Council acknowledges too, that the only way this deep historical wound can be healed is by people in high profile positions (especially politicians) proving that they are listening with compassion to the BAME community – and taking necessary action.

This Council resolves to pledge its support for the Black Lives Matter campaign by:

·     taking a lead among public organisations in Devon to seek out opportunities to promote and celebrate the work in Devon by BAME people, both in the past and currently.

·     Inviting every Devon County Councillor to:

1. show leadership and support for people of colour in Devon, individually supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, using whichever public platform they feel most comfortable with;

2. speak with people from the BAME community in their wards to determine what are the issues of concern for them - and take the necessary steps to resolve those issues;

·     Writing to the Secretary of State for Education urging him to:

3. review the primary school, GCSE and A Level national curriculum with a view to ensuring that the historical record of the British Empire is treated in a way which fully takes account of slavery, the actions and views of historical figures and other oppressive experiences of BAME people, many of whose descendants are now part of our community.

4. show compassion and understanding by starting a national debate led by the BAME community, which seeks to define racism, the impacts of it in today’s society - and demonstrate how we can all help people of colour feel fully included and welcomed in the UK (this could be part of the current government review).

5. identify a Cabinet minister champion for the BAME community.

·     inviting Devon town/parish/city councils to review any landmarks, street names or statues that implicitly celebrate slavery, with a view to clarifying their history, such as the historical plaque in Exmouth for slave trader, John Colleton, who also has three streets named after him in Exeter.

NB. Motion was created with students at The Kings School, especially young BAME people.

Having had regard to the aforementioned, any factual briefing/position statement on the matter set out in Report (CSO/20/14) and other suggestions or alternatives considered at that meeting the Cabinet subsequently resolved:

That Council be recommended to:

(a)  Support Members to continue to find and take opportunities to promote and celebrate the role and work in Devon by BAME people past and present;

(b)  Support and encourage Members to continue to engage with BAME people;

(c)  Note that the streetnames etc are the responsibility of District Councils, however, should the County Council be involved in any such processes, the LGA guidance will be followed;

(d)  Encourage Schools, Settings, DCC Babcock LDP to write a ‘Position Statement’ in reference to the Black Lives Matter campaign and post clearly on their website;

(e)  Write to the Secretary of State for Education urging him to encourage schools to;

i.       Capture the voice of children and young people and their responses to the Black Lives Matter movement;

ii.     Ensure that the school environment and curriculum allows all students to see themselves reflected and included;

iii.    Reflect on how they challenge historic and persisting racist ideas and to how they celebrate diversity.

Pursuant to County Council Minute 298 of 23 July 2020 relating to the Notice of Motion set out below as previously submitted and formally moved and seconded by Councillor Wright that: 

This Council welcomes the peaceful protests against the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer, including those organised in Barnstaple, Ilfracombe, Exeter and Plymouth - and the way these have brought to light how this much of this country's wealth was built on slavery and other racial oppression.

This Council acknowledges the recent further pain caused to the BAME community, by the Windrush Scandal.

This Council acknowledges too, that the only way this deep historical wound can be healed is by people in high profile positions (especially politicians) proving that they are listening with compassion to the BAME community – and taking necessary action.

This Council resolves to pledge its support for the Black Lives Matter campaign by:

·      taking a lead among public organisations in Devon to seek out opportunities to promote and celebrate the work in Devon by BAME people, both in the past and currently.

·      Inviting every Devon County Councillor to:

1. show leadership and support for people of colour in Devon, individually supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, using whichever public platform they feel most comfortable with;

2. speak with people from the BAME community in their wards to determine what are the issues of concern for them - and take the necessary steps to resolve those issues;

·      Writing to the Secretary of State for Education urging him to:

3. review the primary school, GCSE and A Level national curriculum with a view to ensuring that the historical record of the British Empire is treated in a way which fully takes account of slavery, the actions and views of historical figures and other oppressive experiences of BAME people, many of whose descendants are now part of our community.

4. show compassion and understanding by starting a national debate led by the BAME community, which seeks to define racism, the impacts of it in today’s society - and demonstrate how we can all help people of colour feel fully included and welcomed in the UK (this could be part of the current government review).

5. identify a Cabinet minister champion for the BAME community.

·      inviting Devon town/parish/city councils to review any landmarks, street names or statues that implicitly celebrate slavery, with a view to clarifying their history, such as the historical plaque in Exmouth for slave trader, John Colleton, who also has three streets named after him in Exeter.

NB. Motion was created with students at The Kings School, especially young BAME people.

and having had regard to the advice of the Cabinet set out in Minute 453(c) of 9 September 2020:

Councillor Hart MOVED and Councillor McInnes SECONDED that the Cabinet’s advice be accepted and that spirit of the Notice of Motion be endorsed and the following actions be approved.

That Council:

(a)  Support Members to continue to find and take opportunities to promote and celebrate the role and work in Devon by BAME people past and present;

(b)  Support and encourage Members to continue to engage with BAME people;

(c)  Note that the streetnames etc are the responsibility of District Councils, however, should the County Council be involved in any such processes, the LGA guidance will be followed;

(d)  Encourage Schools, Settings, DCC Babcock LDP to write a ‘Position Statement’ in reference to the Black Lives Matter campaign and post clearly on their website;

(e)  Write to the Secretary of State for Education urging him to encourage schools to;

i.      Capture the voice of children and young people and their responses to the Black Lives Matter movement;

ii.     Ensure that the school environment and curriculum allows all students to see themselves reflected and included;

iii.    Reflect on how they challenge historic and persisting racist ideas and to how they celebrate diversity.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Hart was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

The Leader then MOVED and Councillor McInnes SECONDED that (b) and (d) be amended with the following words (in red) and removal of the words with a strikethough;

(b) Support all members to continue to actively engage with all residents of Devon including BAME people and organisations.

(d) Remind Schools, Settings, DCC Babcock LDP to write a ‘Position Statement’ in reference to the Black Lives Matter campaign and post clearly on their website of the Equality Act 2010, Public Equality Duties and how they can heighten awareness arising from the Black Lives Matters movement as an opportunity to review and publish their objective(s) in respect of racial equality and inclusion.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Hart was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

(In accordance with Standing Order 32(4) Councillor Dewhirst asked that his vote against the amendment be recorded).

The Motion in the name of Councillor Hart was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

(In accordance with Standing Order 32(4) Councillor Dewhirst asked that his vote against the amendment be recorded).