Agenda item
Urgent Items
Any
urgent items (whether public or exempt) at the discretion of the Mayor pursuant
to Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.
Minutes:
The
Leader of Council made two statements as follows:
Black
Lives Matter
The brutal killing of George
Floyd on 25 May 2020 has rightly caused an international outcry.
I am sure this event will
have horrified all members of Council and that you will all join me in
condemning what took place.
The killing of George Floyd,
the Windrush scandal and other events in our recent
history show that despite all of the commitments made to achieve racial
equality across society, there remain deep seated attitudes and behaviours
towards people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities which simply
cannot continue.
This is especially stark at
the present time when people from black, asian and
minority ethnic backgrounds are playing a vital role in the response to the
Covid-19 crisis - often on the front line – whilst, worryingly, being
disproportionately affected by the disease.
I would like to take this
opportunity today to initiate a fresh look at how we work with our black, asian and minority ethnic
communities in Neath Port Talbot to achieve equality, equity and social
cohesion.
As elected councillors we
must show leadership in bringing about the societal change that is needed and
to demonstrate that black lives matter.
Incident
at Seven Sisters
The
Leader paid tribute to the emergency services, council staff and members of the
community who assisted in the rescue of a mother and her two children from
their home following the devastating gas explosion in Seven Sisters.
This
was seconded by the ward member for the area.