Issue - meetings

“This Council notes:

·            The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic [BAME] communities, and the significant contribution of BAME individuals to the frontline COVID-19 response;

·            The increase in hate crime towards people from BAME communities in Oxfordshire in recent years;

·            The impact of the Hostile Environment on the ‘Windrush generation’ and others who have the right to live in this country;

·            Structural racism is still an everyday reality for people from Black, Asian and other minority and refugee communities. 

This Council also notes that:

·            BAME communities are underrepresented in Oxfordshire County Council’s workforce, and that the Council’s Equality Policy and Strategy 2018-22 identifies the need to address this; 

·            Thousands of local people have expressed concerns about the existence of structural racism as part of the Black Lives Matters protests, vigils and events that have taken place in recent weeks across the county;

·            Communities across Oxfordshire are united by a desire to live happy, healthy and productive lives, and recognise that reducing inequalities helps all communities to thrive;

·            The County Council Equalities Strategy for employment, service delivery and participation is being updated and this is integral to renewal and recovery for Oxfordshire. 

This Council therefore:

1.      Pledges to make Oxfordshire an Anti-racist County

2.      Will work with and listen to people experiencing racism;

3.      Develop and implement an anti-racist  strategy for employment, service delivery and participation; and

4.      Will work with local authorities, public bodies, employers, trade unions and community groups and any other stakeholders to achieve this.”

Motion Carried by 51 votes to 0, with 10 abstnstions.

Councillor McIlveen moved and Councillor Afridi seconded the following Motion:

“This Council notes:

·            The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic [BAME] communities, and the significant contribution of BAME individuals to the frontline COVID-19 response;

·            The increase in hate crime towards people from BAME communities in Oxfordshire in recent years;

·            The impact of the Hostile Environment on the ‘Windrush generation’ and others who have the right to live in this country;

·            Structural racism is still an everyday reality for people from Black, Asian and other minority and refugee communities. 

This Council also notes that:

·            BAME communities are underrepresented in Oxfordshire County Council’s workforce, and that the Council’s Equality Policy and Strategy 2018-22 identifies the need to address this; 

·            Thousands of local people have expressed concerns about the existence of structural racism as part of the Black Lives Matters protests, vigils and events that have taken place in recent weeks across the county;

·            Communities across Oxfordshire are united by a desire to live happy, healthy and productive lives, and recognise that reducing inequalities helps all communities to thrive;

·            The County Council Equalities Strategy for employment, service delivery and participation is being updated and this is integral to renewal and recovery for Oxfordshire. 

This Council therefore:

1.      Pledges to make Oxfordshire an Anti-racist County

2.      Will work with and listen to people experiencing racism;

3.      Develop and implement an anti-racist  strategy for employment, service delivery and participation; and

4.      Will work with local authorities, public bodies, employers, trade unions and community groups and any other stakeholders to achieve this.”

Following debate, the motion was put to the vote and was carried by 51 votes to 0, with 10 abstentions.

RESOLVED:  Accordingly.