Equity group is praised for accomplishments
South Lanarkshire councillors praised the progress of the equity working group for its achievements.
The cross-party group, chaired by councillor Mo Razzaq (Blantyre), had members from all of the council’s political groups and aimed to ensure fairness and equality in the local authority.
Elected members at the full council meeting last month welcomed the progress of the team.
Councillor Razzaq thanked those who were members for their hard work, and said: “I would like to thank the councillors who attended the meetings.
“It was a cross-party collaboration which was totally without politics involved.
“The work of the officers was absolutely outstanding and I can only applaud the rest of the councillors who took part and put the ideas forward.
“I would also like to thank the officers because there was a lot of really good work done and I really appreciate the effort they put in.”
Members of the group took the opportunity to thank Mr Razzaq for leading and chairing.
Conservative Eric Holford (Clydesdale East), said: “As a member of the working group, the energy and enthusiasm of Mo leading it, all the members that attended and the considerable effort put in by the officers was wonderful, it really, really was well done.
“For a committee that only lasted a short period, I think it lasted over a year, we met frequently and we actually made some progress.
“I think that it’s a credit to Mo and his leadership of it.”
Mark Mcgeever (Hamilton West and Earnock), for the Liberal-democrats, was also full of praise for Mr Razzaq and all those involved.
He said: “Just to echo exactly what has been said by my colleagues and to extend on behalf of the Liberal Democrats group our thanks to the officers and indeed to Mo.
“Councillor Razzaq did a tremendous job with it so thank you.”
The SNP’S Mary Donnelly (Hamilton
West and Earnock), was also full of praise for the group.
She added: “Just to echo the comments that are being made and to say that it actually gelled.
“We all worked together for the right reasons, and thanks Mo for the way that you chaired it. It was excellent.”
Since November last year, the group held three meetings in which they progressed in a number of areas.
The working group gained an understanding from the Amina group of the support available for BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) applicants and how the council could work with the organisation to improve the recruitment of BAME applicants when applying for jobs at the council.
The group also considered a presentation from officers of NHS Lanarkshire on their newly established Ethnic Minority Employee Network (EMEN).
They have also gained an insight into the support that is offered to potential police officer candidates throughout the recruitment process.
For a committee that only lasted a short period – over a year I think – we actually made some progress