Sheffield City Council have admitted they need to do more to tackle racial inequality across the city.
A report published on Monday has set out their plans to tackle the issue after recommendations were made by the Race Equality Commission (REC) in July.
Presenting the paper in a Strategy and Resources Policy Committee, the Council’s chief executive also explained they aimed to address the council’s internal problems regarding the problems.
Kate Josephs said: “We know that our organisation is not representative of the city that we service, especially at senior levels and that is something mentioned in this plan.
“To be a credible leader in the city it is important that the council sets the highest standards for ourselves.”
The Race Equality Commission was established in June 2020 after what its chair, Professor Kevin Hylton, called a “nationwide recognition of the blight of racism”.
It published a paper recommending actions the council should take to set an example in tackling racism, after it found black, Asian and minority ethnic communities suffer racism and prejudice that impacts their health, wellbeing and life chances.
In a foreword to the July report, Professor Hylton said: “The report and its recommendations represent a moment for Sheffield to embrace, learn and grow.
“The Commission and myself have presented the report and recommendations for change and now it is imperative for the city to collectively engage on this shared journey, leading and delivering change together.”
The paper published this week details the actions the council intends to take to make Sheffield an “anti-racist city” within three years.
It said: “[Sheffield City Council] recognises that to achieve this as an organisation, a collective, structural, and systemic anti racist approach is needed, to embed quality practice.”
The first recommendation is for the council to become an “anti-racist organisation” and is seen as fundamental to the aims of the commission, as the council will be a civic leader promoting the cause of anti-racism throughout the city.
The new report details a number of actions Sheffield City Council will take toward achieving this aim, including embedding an inclusive culture within the council and training staff in equality, diversity, anti-racism and cultural competencies.
The report, which stated there “can be no excuses” acknowledged the financial difficulties created by the cost of living crisis, but stated that tackling inequality should be a priority.
