Brighton & Hove City Council
Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture Committee
4.00pm29 July 2020
Virtual Meeting - Skype
MINUTES
|
Present: Councillor Ebel (Joint Chair), Powell (Joint Chair), Rainey (Deputy Chair), Appich (Opposition Spokesperson), Nemeth (Group Spokesperson), Evans, Phillips, O'Quinn and Simson |
|
|
|
Other Members present: Lola BanJoko, Nick May and Anusree Biswas-Sasidharan.
|
PART ONE
13 Procedural Business
13(a) Declarations of substitutes
13.1 Councillor Alex Phillips for Councillor Phelim MacCafferty.
13(b) Declarations of interest
13.2 Councillor Stephanie Powell declared her ongoing employment with Sussex Police and he partner’s employment as a consultant working with various local charities.
13(c) Exclusion of press and public
13.3 In accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (“the Act”), the Planning Committee considered whether the public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item of business on the grounds that it is likely in view of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during it, there would be disclosure
14 Chairs Communications
14.1 The Chair gave the following communications:
“A week is a long time in politics so they say, and so here we are under a new Green administration.
Firstly, we would like to thank Cllr Carmen APPICH for all of her work on the Committee so far. We are very much looking forward to a continued constructive collaboration and dialogue with her in her new role as the Opposition Spokesperson of the Committee.
Secondly, we are under no illusion that this is a very difficult time in local government: the pandemic, 10 years of austerity (and counting), and the unresolved issue of Brexit continue to hammer council finances.
Our priority now must be to help the city recover as safely as possible in every area – from tourism, to events, to hospitality, to the charity sector, and we need everyone on board to help us to achieve this.
We would like to thank each and every one of you here today - and your teams for your continued hard work and dedication during these exceptionally challenging past few months. You have all managed to continue many of the council services, other public sector services, and the charity and voluntary services running during this hugely challenging time, in a situation not seen before in our lifetime. Thank you for what you have done and are continuing to do.
The city of course, has sadly missed out on so many important events due to the pandemic, not least Pride, which would have taken place this weekend. It is important to note that 2020 marks 50 years since the founding of the Gay Liberation Front, and with recent news of “anti-LGBT+ zones” being created in Poland, it is a timely reminder that LGBT+ equality, which has been so hard fought for, must never be taken for granted. We will still be able to celebrate Pride online with FABULOSO, so that we can still fully support and celebrate our fantastic LGBT+ communities, so Happy Pride everyone!
So, as new Joint Chairs we wanted to give you some explanation as to how the Joint Chair will work, as this is the first time of doing this. It is a new way of working, which we as the incoming administration are doing on several committees. We are doing this so that:
large portfolios can be shared to enable those councillors who are working and/or who have caring responsibilities to be able to also carry-out more senior roles on the council.
b) we also felt that two brains was rather better than one in these challenging times.
So, we felt that it was important to divide-up the portfolio of the Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture Committee, and so we have the following broad headings in order to give you a first point of contact:
Cllr Marianna EBEL will be your first point of contact for the following areas:
Tourism & Marketing
Culture, Arts and Heritage
Events
Leisure, Sports & Recreation
Conservation and Design
Building Control
Museums
Planning
I will be your first point of contact for the following areas:
Equalities
Community and Voluntary Sector
Libraries
Neighbourhood and Community Development
Community Wealth Building
Community Safety
Crime and Disorder Committee
Prevent Duty
Additionally, we have Cllr Clare RAINEY as our Deputy Chair, whose invaluable experience and work that she has done so far with regards to the arts sector and libraries will continue.
We are keen to catch-up with all relevant officers and city contacts as soon as possible. We would ask groups and individuals to get in touch with us or officers, so that we can start arranging those meetings.
So, Cllr Marianna EBEL and I haven’t been in the Joint Chair role a week yet, but already we have hit the ground running. Cllr EBEL and is attending the meeting with BLM and BHBuses later this week. I attended, along with the Mayor and Cllr APPICH, the exciting re-opening of the Royal Pavilion on Monday. Yesterday I attended the Racial Harassment Forum and listened to their requests and concerns. We reaffirmed at this meeting our commitment as the Green Group, along with our Labour colleagues, to committing to working with them and others, to improve the lives of our BAME community by starting with our own council, which brings me to our one agenda item today: Becoming An Anti-Racist Council.
Now, today’s meeting is somewhat topsy-turvy, as we should have had the petition from Mo KANJILAL on this subject, and the GG NoM at last week’s Full Council, but other events rather changed the proceedings, so this is to reaffirm that that petition and the NoM will be heard at a future Full Council.
I would like to stress that this agenda item today is not a moment in time. This is about looking at deconstructing old systems and structures, and creating better ways of working, in order to create a fairer and equal society with the focus on anti-racism. It is an ongoing piece of work that must come back to this committee again and again. Today’s agenda item is a continuation of a journey that is progressing all too slowly. We need every co-optee, and every voice to get involved and to contribute to making this societal shift, so that Brighton & Hove can be both a City of Sanctuary and an Anti-Racist Council.”
15 Public Involvement
15 (a) Written Questions
15.1 There were none.
15 (b) Deputations
15.2 There were none.
16 Anti-Racism Strategy
16.1 The Committee considered a report of the Interim Director of Housing, Neighbourhoods, Communities which sought to set out the immediate actions the council were taking to with respect to becoming an ‘anti-racist’ council. It also sought to outline the effort in increasing equality by informing how BHCC would plan, finance, deliver, commission and review services. The report was provided by the Head of communities and equality.
16.2 The Head of Communities and Equality stated the importance of moving fast with the implementation of the strategy and that asking people to detail racist experiences would further compound harm as a result no consultation was needed. It was noted that other groups in the city would be included. It was clarified that a progress report would be brought next year.
16.3 Councillor Simson referred to the new resource area on the website and enquired if this had already occurred and if so when.
16.4 The Head of Communities and Equality stated that the website had not yet been made live as resources on the website had not yet been made ready.
16.5 Councillor Appich enquired the new administration would be moving forward with BHCC’s new responsibilities.
16.6 The Head of Communities and Equality referred to BHCC’s 13 activities and stated that Councillors would be involved in different activities in different ways. It was stated that this was about changing BHCC at a foundational level.
16.7 The Chair stated that intersectionality would be a key feature of the strategy.
16.8 Councillor Phillips stated 7 different areas to direct progress:
· Importance was stressed on decolonising the curriculum and that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic role models should be brought to light.
· It was noted that there was a question brought at Full Council regarding the exclusion of ethnicities.
· Reference was made to intersectionality, it was stated that more people would be invited to take part in the governing process.
· It was stated that rules on political representation would be looked at.
· Reference was made to hate crimes and that it would be good to track statistics from police. It was stated that
16.9 The Head of Communities and Equality responded with the following:
· Stated that the ‘upstanding’ programme would be set up to create a city Community network to train people on how to act when witnessing ‘hate’.
· The Head of Communities and Equality referred to the engagement plan and stated that this could be brought back to a later meeting. It was stated that White British officers should not be engaging in the process as it could be seen as taking over the voice of Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic involvement.
· It was stated that colleagues in Family, Children and Learning would be looking at anti-racism measures to be implemented in schools.
· It was stated that CAG would be looking at how to implement intersectionality out to all.
· It was stated that, as per the fair an inclusion action plan, workforce changes would be forthcoming and that HR would be involved in this.
16.10 Councillor Rainey referred to item 3.5 and stated that efforts would be underway to look at institutional racism within the justice system. It was stated that there were issues with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people being disproportionately affected by a Stop and Search policy.
16.11 The Interim Director for Housing, Neighbourhoods & Communities clarified that part of the strategy was to work in partnership with statutory agencies in the City, It was stated that BHCC would work with many partners. Reference was made to Councillor Alex Phillips comments and it was stated that BHCC’s approach would be first and foremost led by the entire community. It was noted that the entire community would decide what was to be prioritised for the City.
16.12 Councillor O’Quinn further clarification as to the Stop and Search figures that were alluded.
16.13 Councillor Rainey clarified that the figures stated were for Sussex.
16.14 Councillor O’Quinn stated that colonial action was taught in great length within the curriculum. It was noted that she had previously taught at the schools noted in the report.
16.15 The Head of Communities and Equality clarified that decolonisation implied looking at the way that history was taught. It was stated that it would be an effort to redress the perception of and the representation of Black people in British history.
16.16 Councillor O’Quinn stated that the report was worded poorly and noted that good history teachers already did this.
16.17 Councillor Evans referred to 3.52 and enquired how work had been started. Reference was made to the Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) and if it would be possible to explore how HOSC could advance anti-racism action.
16.18 The Head of Communities and Equality stated that they were happy to explore how HOSC could be involved.
16.19 Anusree Biswas, Co-optee, requested possible KPIs and performance targets. Clarification was sought with regard to funding and resources. It was stated that older Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups and intersectional groups should be included. It was stated that racism required action and that it required powerful white people to realise their grip on power.
16.20 The Head of Communities and Equality stated that there was an internal group meeting being held weekly and that issues such as structural discrimination was being discussed. It was noted that various KPIs and performance targets were established and that lots of correspondence from individuals in the city had been received. It was clarified that all residents in the City would be engaged to ultimately decide the priorities of the City. It was noted that a conversation had to be held with White British people and to note how they would participate in this. It was clarified that a budget was being worked on at the moment and that a dedicated officer would be established to focus on workforce change. It was stated that someone with lived experience of the City would be appointed and that they would be supported by Democratic Services.
16.21 Anusree Biswas agreed that White British people needed to be included in conversations. It was stated that the representative appointed needed to understand the nuance of policy with respect to racism experienced in the city, it was stated that it was not enough to be black.
16.22 The Head of Communities and Equality stated that focus would be placed on action to be taken earlier in the process.
16.23 Anusree Biswas sought clarification with regard to the local outbreak plan and expressed concern that there would be another wave of Covid 19 and that this would affect the most vulnerable including Black, Asian and Minority ethnic people and the homeless.
16.24 The Head of Communities and Equality stated that efforts were being undertaken to focus on this issue such as the provision of cultural appropriate food.
16.25 Lola BanJoko, co-optee, noted that BHCC had been in close communication with many groups across Brighton and Hove. It was stated that a Talent Management Program was being set up. Reference was made to risk assessments and that areas such as schools would be looking at how to implement this will being mindful of risks being carried out. It was noted that there was a higher number of deaths among pregnant Black, Asian and Minority ethnic women.
16.26 Councillor Ebel stressed the importance of a commitment to equality of opportunity for all and that racism must be confronted. It was stated that white people must acknowledge their privilege and educate themselves to improve the lives of all in the city. It was stated that intersectionality was important and that racism against a person was worse if they were also either female or gay. It was confirmed that the anti-racist strategy would have a strong focus on this.
16.27 Councillor Grimshaw referred to the process of decolonising history education and noted the example of what was taught regarding the history of the Pavilion and the treatment of Indian people. It was stated that what was not focused on was how white people were not as positive as what was historically taught. It was noted that history should be truthful and ought not gloss over various events that also occurred.
16.28 Councillor Simson stated that the Black, Asian and Minority ethnic community was not a community rather that it was a large block of people with lots of different communities within. It was further stated that this work should not be rushed.
16.29 RESOLVED:
(1) That the actions committed to in the report towards becoming an anti-racist council and the authority’s plan for being led by Black, Asian and Minority ethnic (BAME) residents and communities in the development of its anti-racism strategy be noted;
(2) That officers be instructed to provide a progress report in November 2020 on the council’s activity to becoming an anti-racist council; and
(3) That it be noted that the draft anti-racism strategy would be brought to committee for approval in Spring 2021 at the latest.
17 Items referred for Full Council
The meeting concluded at Time Not Specified
|
Signed
|
Chair |
||
|
Dated this |
day of |
|
|