Black Lives Matter: Vale Council votes in favour of "inclusivity" review
By Alex Jones
3rd Nov 2020 | Local News
Black Lives Matter: Vale Council votes in favour of "inclusivity" review
Controversial statues, monuments, road names and building names in Barry will be reviewed in the wake of this year's Black Lives Matter protests.
The reviewal, put forward by Vale of Glamorgan Council Leader Neil Moore, was agreed by the Cabinet during yesterday afternoon's (2 Nov) meeting without objection.
Cllr Lis Burnett, who seconded the report, said:
"I am grateful for the Black Lives Matter being the catalyst to bring this on the agenda. But I think it's broader. People in the Vale should feel wanted and valued in the community in which they live.
"We have to think about this very carefully and speak with people who understand the history of the area and then discuss with people in those communities what the appropriate course of action is. This something that really needs to happen."
Commemorations of controversial historical figures and events will be appraised (and possibly changed) to ensure "they are representative of local people's values and those of a modern, inclusive council.
The proposal states the Black Lives Matter protests - which saw the toppling of slave trader Edward Colston's Bristol statue - "rightly prompted people to consider the appropriateness of commemoration or acknowledgment of people and events from history and their relevance to today."
It recommends that Barry Town Council and residents suggest commemorations that should be placed under review.
A panel will then determine whether that commemoration should be changed. It will be comprised of:
- Neil Moore, Leader of the Council- Lis Burnett, Deputy Leader of the Council- The Council's Member Equality Champion- The Council's LGBT Champion- An officer from the Council's Strategic Leadership Team- A representative from "local history societies"- A representative from the Vale of Glamorgan Stand Up to Racism organisation.
When Nub News last week speculated that road and school names commemorating William Gladstone
(who campaigned against the immediate abolition of slavers) may be reviewed, a social media storm followed. Penarth Labour Councillor Ruba Sivagnanam came out in favour, Tweeting: "This is about education , we are here to listen #blacklivesmatter #Equality #knowyourhistory." Vale Conservative Councillor Vince Bailey has been previously critical of such proposals, saying: "When you start removing statues you are beginning on a journey down a very slippery slope. "The council are following the agenda of cultural extremists when they should be listening to the silent majority." The cabinet's decision is in line with First Minister Mark Drakeford's July announcement that a nationwide audit of controversial commemorations should take place.
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