PLANS are in motion to address racial discrimination and inequality in Warwick district.
The action plan, on how Warwick District Council will approach and engage with ethnic minority groups, has been unanimously approved by Cabinet.
This is the second stage of work undertaken by a Task and Finish Group, set up in June 2020, to review how WDC deals with issues of racial equality, diversity and inclusivity. The report puts forward a series of measures that could be taken to overcome the disadvantages experienced by minority groups.
Stage one of the report, approved by councillors in 2022, has seen progress being made towards the recruitment of a more ethnically diverse workforce across WDC services at all levels, to reflect the needs of local communities.
Among the proposals set out in the report are putting in place mechanisms to identify and build robust communication channels with under-represented groups and ethnically diverse communities, and provision of 2021 census data with a breakdown of ethnicity at ward level to councillors and officers.
A review of practice and policies with regard to service delivery and communications to ethnic minorities, a programme to encourage engagement from ethnic minority groups in democratic processes including standing for election, and the appointment of a dedicated Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion officer on a part-time basis are also included.
WDC Chair Coun Mini Kaur Mangat headed up the Equalities Task and Finish Group, having proposed the original motion to review the council’s approach to equality and diversity following the death of George Floyd.
She said: “As a local authority, we have a legal and moral duty to show fairness and equality to our residents, service users and employees. We are lucky to have a population that is rich in its diversity, and therefore need to recognise that our residents, customers and employees have very different backgrounds and life experiences. This report and action plan acknowledges our commitment to equality and inclusion and will help us to ensure that the services we design and deliver are appropriate and accessible to all sectors of our community.”
