Plenty of support for new group
Councillors have unanimously supported moves to establish a new BAME working group.
Proposed by the region’s only BAME councillor Mo Razzaq (Blantyre), the working group will work to tackle disparities between white and minority ethnic job applicants.
Cllr Razzaq will chair the group which will have representatives from each of the council’s five political groups.
Presenting the motion to a meeting of the council on Wednesday, September 23, Cllr Razzaq said :“Recruitment disparities are worse than ever.
“If these figures were a one-off it would be understandable.
“I am not asking for special treatment or positive discrimination, I’m asking for equity.”
He added that he had received support from across the political divide by thanking his Labour colleague Cllr Monique McAdams (East Kilbride West), SNP councillor Mary Donnelly (Hamilton West and Earnock) and Lib Dem deputy group leader Cllr Mark McGeever (Hamilton West and Earnock).
Seconding the motion, Cllr McGeever said:“Colleagues I’m sure no-one taking part in this meeting today wants to see prejudice or discrimination in any walk of life.
“Many people assume the public sector has by now overcome any significant issues in its services and recruitment. This isn’t the case.
“I’ve no reason to believe South Lanarkshire Council is worse than any other local authority or public sector agency but it would be the height of arrogance for us to think our organisation is somehow immune.
“The statistics Cllr Razzaq has often quoted clearly indicate there are issues to be overcome - there’s no shame in acknowledging that and resolving to address it; but it would be shameful for us to downplay or dismiss it.
“This is difficult for our council to fully identify and understand – for the simple fact that almost every councillor and senior officer is, like me, from the majority ethnic group.
“In order to gain the public’s confidence it’s important that the chair of this working group is not viewed as any one party’s appointee.
“Having been appointed by the whole council, the chair will have enhanced credibility – and the clear responsibility - to carry out the role
on behalf of every group.”Deputy leader of the council Maureen Chalmers (Blantyre) said:“The SNP group supports this motion and welcomes it. We want South Lanarkshire Council to lead the way.
“It is important that we hear the lived experience of a wide range of people.”
Clydesdale East Conservative councillor Eric Holford was“100 per cent with”Cllr Razzaq but felt the idea should have been brought through the council’s equal opportunities forum.
He added:“The idea seems to be we need to win one issue at a time.”
Leader of the independent group Cllr Margaret Cooper (Avondale and Stonehouse) also felt there was a “difficulty when we pick out separate groups”and it could“set a precedent”by appointing the chair.
She added:“I can’t understand why this matter has not been dealt with at the equal opportunities forum.”
However, chair of the equal opportunities forum Cllr Bert Thompson (Blantyre) said:“I welcome Cllr Razzaq’s decision. It is a
wider problem than the council but it is the council that we are responsible for.”
East Kilbride South councillor Fiona Dryburgh was“a bit disappointed to hear some of the comments”.
She said:“The problem with that approach is it takes away from the motion. It is important not only to see colour, but to level the playing field.”
Rutherglen Central and North councillor Martin Lennon bemoaned the“soft objection”from some councillors who weren’t objecting but weren’t fully supportive.
He said:“We have a duty as a local authority to promote good relations between those who have a protected characteristic and those who don’t.
“It is within your power to focus on particular issues if you think we need to do more.”
If appointing the chair would set a precedent, Cllr Lennon added:“Who cares?
“I think it is a good decision to take in this case and in future.”