- Saturday, April 20, 2024
By: Pramod Thomas
THE policy and resources committee of the Square Mile governing body has accepted a series of ‘comprehensive and decisive’ actions recommended by the City of London Corporation’s Tackling Racism Taskforce.
The committee also agreed the Taskforce’s recommendation to set up a working group to oversee the removal and re-siting of statues of William Beckford and Sir John Cass – two figures linked to the Transatlantic slave trade – from its Guildhall headquarters, and any relevant consultative processes or planning permissions that may be required.
A new report on tackling racism has put forward measures to tackle racism and boosting diversity in the City Corporation’s staff and elected members, its family of schools, the City of London Police and in the wider Square Mile business community.
The Taskforce, set up in June in the wake of the Black Lives Matters protests, will continue to meet regularly to scrutinise progress of its recommendations and ensure all measures are implemented, a statement said.
Andrien Meyers, co-chair of the City of London Corporation’s Tackling Racism Taskforce, said: “When the Taskforce was set up last summer we made a commitment to act quickly, radically and with determination to tackle racism in all its forms, and I’m really proud of the work we’ve done to help achieve that aim.
“Our report, and the comprehensive and decisive actions contained within it, should send out a clear message that we are determined to ensure the City of London is a place where people of all ethnicities and backgrounds feel safe and welcome.”
The report commits the City Corporation to introducing anonymised recruitment at all grades, ‘reverse mentoring’ schemes to boost understanding of institutional barriers that may exist and training for key individuals to support BAME staff.
A dedicated senior officer responsible for diversity will be appointed, new guidance will be issued for committees and work will be carried out to encourage a more diverse mix of candidates for next year’s City Corporation elections.
Meanwhile, schools will be encouraged to do more to recruit staff from diverse backgrounds and to ensure under-represented groups get work experience opportunities
The City Corporation will also support business initiatives aimed at boosting diversity, make its business events more diverse and do more to support minority-owned small and medium sized firms.
The recommendations for the City of London Police include new recruitment and retention targets to boost diversity, and embedding diversity and inclusion as a key strategic objective for the board.
“This report puts diversity and inclusivity front and centre in everything we do, from our staffing and governance arrangements to our family of schools, the City of London Police and our close relationship with the City’s financial and professional services sector,” said Caroline Addy, co-chair of the City of London Corporation’s Tackling Racism Taskforce.
“A lot has been achieved in a short space of time but it’s vital that we don’t rest on our laurels. Therefore the Taskforce will continue to closely monitor all of the recommendations we’ve put forward to ensure they are implemented with the pace and thoroughness they deserve.”
