Council reiterates its commitment to equality

Derbyshire County Council has restated its commitment to equality and diversity in light of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Protests have taken place across the country - including in the High Peak, in Glossop and Buxton town centres - in recent weeks in memory of George Floyd, an African-American who was killed by police in the United States, and in solidarity with all people of colour who suffer injustice and oppression.

The council says it has "worked to advance equality of opportunity and promote good relations across all communities" for many years and has a statutory public sector duty to "eradicate unlawful discrimination and advance equality of opportunity". 

Council leader, Councillor Barry Lewis, said: "We condemn racism and are committed to working to ensure true equality of opportunity exists for all people across Derbyshire and beyond.

"The council regularly meets with people from our Black and Minority Ethnic communities to ensure that we are responding to the issues affecting our diverse communities, whilst making our services more responsive to local people’s needs.

"The peaceable aspects of recent national and international events are helpful in prompting the council to ask if there is more we can do to celebrate diversity and achieve equality for all of those in our communities who might be disadvantaged.

"Our Diversity and Inclusion Board is already working to identify those areas where progress can and should be made over the coming months and to ensure that we are enabling positive change as there is no room for complacency." 

The authority's County Hall HQ in Matlock will also be lit up on Wednesday (June 17) as "a visible sign of the council's ongoing commitment".