30 January (Part 1) - Race inequalities in Bexley
I don’t like the acronym BAME, it sounds a bit condescending to me but I
expect everyone knows what it means so I will make use of it here. Bexley
Council has had a Task Group for the past six months looking into inequalities
that affect BAME people and their report makes uncomfortable reading.
Due to Covid the evidence collected has in part been anecdotal from residents
but there has been input from schools, public heath sources and churches as well as from within the Council.
Chairman Alan Downing was not very keen on debating the report at the
Communities Scrutiny meeting. He wanted the
police, probation service and everyone referenced in it brought together. “I am putting this
over to a further meeting” he said. His only concern was that the BAME community
appeared not to be taking up the offer of Covid vaccinations. (From what I have read it is a national issue.)
Councillor Howard Jackson (Conservative, Barnehurst
and one of four report authors) objected and tried to pull the debate on to the subject in hand but was
rather rudely slapped down by the
Chairman who continued with his Covid theme.
Councillor Caroline Newton (who
co-authored the report) said there needed
to be at least a preliminary discussion now. The Chairman reiterated that there
needs to be “an in depth discussion. Without the other agencies being here the
conversation will be one-sided.”
Councillor Howard Jackson thought that Councillor Newton had been a bit too easy
going, he personally was “flabbergasted” at the Chairman’s response. We should
not be watering down the findings with Covid. Covid is a separate issue to
racism in the borough. “The conversation should be right now. I don’t
understand why it is being pulled. Covid is not connected.”
Despite that the Chairman continued with Covid while admitting he had not had
enough time to thoroughly read the equalities report. Despite that he added, “it is not a complete report”.
(Not read it but it’s not complete.)
Another of the report authors, Labour Councillor Mabel Ogundayo (Thamesmead East) said that
Councillor Jackson had hit the nail on the head. “Racism is a huge issue” and
the report lists a number of disturbing examples. Incidents in the Broadway,
racist comments in borough consultations and a perception that authorities will
not take the problem seriously. Housing and Health are also affected to some
extent and it was reported earlier in the same meeting how young black men are
particularly affected by Mental Health issues.
Perhaps most worrying of all the points brought up in the report is that the
three borough Police Commander refused requests (too busy?) to meet on the issue although a
meeting with lower ranks brought up the usual question marks around Stop and Search figures.
Vice-Chairman Richard Diment (Conservative, Sidcup) bravely disagreed with his
Chairman. He referred to the section of the report that mentioned racism among
Council staff. Promotions and discipline etc. The matter is “so urgent” he said
but “Covid reluctance must be a separate piece of work”.
Finally Councillor Sue Gower MBE (Conservative, Bexleyheath) chipped in with the same message.
Faced with the best brains on Bexley Council the Chairman’s backtracking was worthy of a job at the EU Commission.
Councillor Jackson was allowed to say he had interviewed many people.
He accepted that the information was anecdotal and not scientific but the racism
is “daily and quite appalling. It was harrowing, horrible and insidious. People
do not trust Councillors or Police Officers. It was hard to listen to and upsetting”.
The Chairman reverted to his Covid vaccination theme.
Councillor Ogundayo who was instrumental in getting the report underway made
similar comments and added schools to the conversation. She didn’t want to see
the report shelved and it should be elevated to Sub-Group status.
The Chairman “felt it was right to have one big meeting as a Sub-Group gets bigger and bigger
and bigger and we do not achieve anything.”
Councillor Newton said that one big meeting would require an awful lot of work
and she would want guidance from the Chairman. He said “we must aim for the end here and not miss something”.
The Chairman favoured taking the subject away for discussion with the Cabinet Member.
Councillor Newton said she was disappointed not to hear more Councillors comment
and so the meeting showed every sign of fizzling towards an unsatisfactory end.
Fortunately Cabinet Member Alex Sawyer was listening and said he would welcome a
Sub-Group to take the issue forward but he “found some
things in this report regrettable. The criticism of the police is not
particularly acceptable, putting it into a public document is not helpful for
relations with the police between both the Council and local residents.
The criticism was deeply regrettable, I very much regret that particular aspect.”
And there you have it in a nutshell. Councillor Jackson says that the BAME
community does not trust Councillors or the Police - I would go further - and
the Home Secretary’s husband objects to the local population not being shielded from unpalatable facts.
Councillor Ogundayo reminded Cabinet Member Sawyer that he has listened to
complaints about racism in the borough made at Scrutiny meetings where both she and him were
present over the past seven years with no progress being made. Councillor Ogundayo was accused of being disingenuous
In case it is not obvious there is to be a Sub-Committee.