Agenda item

To debate any motions submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rules.

Madam Mayor explained to the meeting that she had been informed by the Labour and Conservative Groups that rather than presenting separate motions for debate, they had worked together to jointly present a single Council Debate Motion. The Chief Executive was requested to read this joint Council Debate Motion on behalf of both Groups:

“This Council opposes racism in all its forms, condemns the mistreatment of Black people across the globe and affirms it has no place in our town. We condemn the murder of George Floyd in the USA and the death of others including Rashan Charles in London and Seni Lewis in Croydon and recognise that such mistreatment of Black people stems from systemic racism. We agree that all public bodies, including Croydon Council, should continue to play their part in tackling inequality. Our residents have a tremendous track record in working together for the common good and we salute the people from across Croydon who have stood in solidarity to declare that Black Lives Matter. As a Council we stand together in opposing racism, promoting fairness and justice and supporting our diverse communities in these challenging times”.

Madam Mayor invited the Leader, Councillor Newman, to propose the motion Racism was described as the ultimate tragedy made possible by the silence of good people. The Leader described how it was right to bring forward the motion that saw all 70 Councillors speaking with one voice to breakdown the wall of silence. Whilst there had been many battles fought and progress made, the murder of George Floyd demonstrated that too much of the wall of silence remained intact. It had taken the campaign by Black Lives Matter to show that change had to happen and that incremental progress was no longer acceptable. The Leader highlighted the role of Croydon’s 93,000 young people in making change happen.  The Council was proud of its leadership on diversity and support for equality but more radical and faster action was needed. There was a call for more black representation locally, nationally and across London. The over-representation of black students in those excluded from school could no longer be explained and needed to be addressed.  The current Stop and Search policy was no longer acceptable and needed to be reviewed. The Leader described his shock at how this was used and emphasised the need to support policing by consent. The motion was being put down as a marker to show that the Council would act and that it was about more than just words. The Leader called for racism to be torn down forever and moved the motion.

Councillor Tim Pollard was invited by Madam Mayor to second the motion and described how he, in the immediate aftermath of George Floyd’s death and the resulting understandable demonstrations, had contacted Councillor Newman. Councillor Tim Pollard described how he was glad that the parties were working together. It was noted that support was not being given to any particular group or agenda. Rather the motion was stating that discrimination based on any protected characteristic was wrong including all forms of racism. Whilst racism may be less overt, Councillor Tim Pollard stressed that this had not gone away but was more covert. It was noted that this was not about rewriting history. Slavery was an abomination and its modern-day equivalent should be combatted.  Councillor Tim Pollard thought it more likely that racism would be addressed if this was done collective and seconded the motion. 

Madam Mayor invited Councillor Wood to speak to the motion which the Councillor described as a privilege.  A film was described which Councillor Wood had watched with his son. This featured a race by school students. Those who were white had been given a head start to represent their privilege as on this basis they had been able to win easily.  The black students questioned even trying to participate in a race constructed in this way. It was described how a 12 year old had been arrested for sending hate messages. Councillor Wood questioned what had happened in the child’s life for them to think that black lives did not matter. It was time for meaningful change. This included trying to address past wrongs, increase black representation and review landmarks that no longer represented society’s values. It was hoped that all this would happen because actions mattered. It was stressed that BAME individual’s mattered; just mattered and not more than anyone else. It was noted how someone’s name alone could be the difference between getting shortlisted for a job and not. It was emphasised that black history needed to become part of the school curriculum, the BBC was unable to correctly differentiate between black women in Parliament and that Windrush victims had needed to prove what they had lost as a result of the Government’s policy. It was thought that the fierce urgency of this moment in history might give the chance for many to take their shot at having a life lived more equally.

Invited by Madam Mayor to speak to the motion, Councillor Creatura expressed his conscious and full-throated declaration that everyone should play their part to improve the lives of all residents. There was a need to understand and tackle the injustices that held people back and to bring an improvement for everyone. Councillor Creatura quoted the 2017 Race Disparity Audit that had found Asian and black people were more likely to be in persistent poverty reflecting lower education attainment, higher unemployment rates and lower home ownership, in addition to over-representation in policing and the criminal justice system. Without breaking the cycle these injustices would go on and on. Councillor Creatura stressed the need to find the right practical solutions to improve the life chances of the most disadvantaged and called for opportunities to reflect talent and hard work. Systems needed to change and both parties needed to work to a common goal.

Invited by Madam Mayor to speak to the motion, Councillor Young stated that whilst it had been claimed all men were created equal, this only applied to white men and women. Black people had been chattels with those freed from slavery receiving nothing from the reparations. However, racism was not like slavery. Rather it was compared to colonisation and embedded in arrangements through debt and the terms of trade. It was described how France was continuing to profit from poor African nations as a consequence of systemic racism embedded in post-colonial arrangements. Black Lives Mater was calling for the end of institutional racism. In addition to condemning the murder of George Floyd, it had to be acknowledged that change needed to happen in the UK as well.  The findings of the Lammy Review, including the over-representation of black people in prison, were noted along with the link between school exclusions, arrests and imprisonment. Councillor Young called for the police to be supported when following correct procedures but he also supported the right to challenge the police where this was not the case. It was suggested that an App be developed to support this and provide appropriate guidance on how to challenge inappropriate police action. Croydon’s 80,000 BAME community was noted and how this meant that black lives were significant in the Borough.

Invited by Madam Mayor to speak to the motion, Councillor Hopley described how both parties opposed racism in all its forms. The motion showed how the parties were working together to achieve better outcomes. Councillor Hopley referenced her own mother’s struggle and how she had travelled with her sister and grandmother on the Empire Windrush. The importance of the slogan featured on a card sent from the ship was highlighted, “A link to bind where circumstances part”. It was noted that all Councillors were coming together to promote fairness and justice and support diverse communities at a particularly challenging time. Improved representation at a recent Health and Wellbeing Board meeting was highlighted and welcomed as a way to achieve better outcomes. Councillor Hopley expressed concern that those most at risk of dying of Covid-19 were men from BAME groups with particular risk for those from the Bangladeshi community.  There was a call to understand this better to prevent any future impact. Councillor Hopley noted that there was more work to be done and that she would endeavour through her role as Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health to do all possible to ensure that black lives matter. Councillor Hopley looked forward to working with Councillors Campbell and Woodley as part of the Health and Wellbeing Board to address the issues identified. 

Councillor Patsy Cumming, invited by Madam Mayor to speak to the motion, highlighted how British Citizens were being deprived of their rights. Dexter Bristol had emigrated to the UK at the age of eight. He had been dismissed from his job in 2016 because he did not have a British passport. Not being entitled to aid, he had died in 2018. Croydon’s own research highlighted that black boys excluded from Primary and Secondary Schools went onto prison and early death. Councillor Patsy Cummings called for diversity to be valued. Stop and Search was systemic and insidious and had to be stopped. Croydon needed to take forward a better future with Councillors standing together because they cared. Councillor Patsy Cummings stressed that silence was not an option with it recommended that the motion be followed by a road map as there was an imperative to start working immediately.  It was stressed that there was no talk of hatred or revenge and that there was no expectation of elevation above everyone else; equality was all that was wanted.

Invited by Madam Mayor to speak to the motion, Councillor Bains described the overt racism he had experienced and how this had taught him to outperform and work harder. However, over time he had come to understand that this was not necessarily sufficient or fair. Younger members of the non-white community were questioning why they were having to work harder for the same outcome if the lives of black people mattered. George Floyd’s brutal killing showed that nuanced words were not needed. Councillor Bains called for all to stand with black people and emphatically declare their support. It was described how it was physically hard to knell outside the Town Hall for eight minutes and 43 seconds. This had brought home the fear and terror. Whilst some saw taking the knee as an act of submission, about which Councillor Bains had initially had misgivings, he had done this because he had learnt this was an act of unity that provided an understanding pain. Bringing an end to racism needed to be achieved through dialogue, working together and then taking lawful action. Councillor Bains called for the curriculum and statues to be addressed in order to achieve legitimate change in the public realm and give the power to change decisions taken centuries ago.

The motion was put to the vote and carried unanimously.