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At this Wednesday's Full Council meeting the Liberal Democrat councillors put forward a motion committing the Council to practical measures to help bring about racial equality in Derby.

Councillor Ajit Atwal, who is the Council's Minority Ethnic Communities Champion, proposed the motion. He said, "We want to make sure that where inequality based on race exists, that it is challenged and put right. We also want to help people to spot unconscious bias so it can be eliminated."

The motion was passed, although several councillors failed to vote in favour of it and one from the Reform Derby Party voted against it.

#BlackLivesMatter

The Motion in full can be read below:

Motion: Racial and social justice

Moved by Councillor Atwal, seconded by Councillor Skelton

Council stands in solidarity with black communities in the UK, USA and around the world. We know we are living through a moment in history where our values are challenged, and Derby City Council stands on the side of racial and social justice.

In the UK 26% of instances of police using firearms are against black people, despite black people making up only 3.3% of the population. 51% of young men in custody in the UK are from black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds, despite these groups making up only 14% of the UK population.

Here in Derby, the Council will:

• Adopt an actively anti-racist outlook within areas we have influence, by routinely calling for transparent reporting and monitoring of the impact of these organisations on the BAME community: for example, continuing to request reporting on the BAME pay gap.

• Scrutinise and act on any available information about the impact of the Covid pandemic on BAME communities in Derby.

• Ensure staff at all levels of the council and councillors complete the training about the dangers of unconscious bias.

• Work with all relevant local campaign groups to develop policies to inform our work with the BAME community in Derby.

#BlackLivesMatter