To consider a report of the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing, and Equalities.

That the Executive:

1.    Reviewed the summary analysis and feedback from the Citizens Survey for ‘Moving on from BAME Terminology’.

2.    Agreed that the results of this survey will be used to help determine an acceptable and appropriate term to use in the Council’s future documents and publications

3.    Approved the proposal that specific terms to describe various ethnic groups be used in Council documents as far as is possible and practical.

4.    Approved the proposal that the term ‘ethnically diverse communities’ be used in the Council’s future documents and publications instead of 2 BAME – Black and minority ethnic.

The Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing, and Equalities provided Members with feedback from the Trafford Citizens Survey for ‘Moving on from BAME Terminology’.

It was noted that a Citizens Survey titled ‘Moving on from BAME Terminology’ went public on the 3rd to 31st of October 2022 to gather the views of people working and living in Trafford regarding which term should be used to describe people’s ethnicity. It was reported that the survey was in response to the Government’s recommendations that public bodies stop using the term ‘BAME’ (black and minority ethnic) in their public documents and instead use the term ‘ethnic minorities’.

The report provided a summary of the Citizens Survey feedback from the respondents and a recommendation for a new term ‘ethnically diverse communities’, which most respondents supported, to be used in Council documents going forward. 

The Leader stated that this was an excellent piece of work and a good example of officers taking the time to ensure that they got it right before action was taken.

The Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration thanked the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing, and Equality and officers for conducting an excellent piece of work in a very sensitive manner.

Councillor Jerrome noted that the Green party had questioned the use of BAME over a year ago and the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing, and Equalities had mentioned that this piece of work was underway. Councillor Jerrome congratulated the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing, and Equalities and the officers involved for completing that work in a way that ensured the right residents and stakeholders were involved, producing the right answers to the issue. The Leader thanked Councillor Jerrome for his comments and informed the Committee that other organisations were looking to replicate what had been done in Trafford, as it was seen as an example of best practice.

The Leader of the Opposition noted the large number of responses received by the consultation conducted for this piece of work.  They further noted the difficulties in relation to dealing with terminology, especially during the transition from the use of one set of terminology to another. The Leader of the Opposition then asked when a community would be considered to be ethnically diverse. The Leader thanked the Leader of the Opposition for her question and responded that a detailed answer would be provided after the meeting. The Leader also thanked the Leader of the opposition for her Comments on the quality of the consultation exercise and he added that lessons learned from this piece of work would be taken and replicated for future consultations. The Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing, and Equalities confirmed that officers would provide a detailed response to the Leader of the Opposition and added that if a community self-identified as ethnically diverse or having protected characteristics then the Council would accept that classification which would reflect the fluid nature of ethnicity within communities.

The Leader of the Opposition asked for clarification of whether the term was linked to percentages of residents within the overall demography of the borough or perception. The Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing, and Equalities answered that it was a matter of how residents felt about themselves and respecting people’s right to self-identify themselves. The Corporate Director for Resource and Strategy stated that the Council’s commitment was to work with community leaders and stakeholders who could guide the Council in these areas. The Executive Member for Children’s Services added that the terminology was more focused around community as in people rather than a place and the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration highlighted that the report held that specific terms should be used whenever applicable and that this was particularly important in terms of messaging around health.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive:

1)    Reviewed the summary analysis and feedback from the Citizens Survey for ‘Moving on from BAME Terminology’.

2)    Agreed that the results of this survey be used to help determine an acceptable and appropriate term to be used in the Council’s future documents and publications

3)    Approved the proposal that specific terms to describe various ethnic groups be used in Council documents as far as possible and practical.

4)    Approved the proposal that the term ‘ethnically diverse communities’ be used in the Council’s future documents and publications instead of 2 BAME – Black and minority ethnic.