Town council stands firm and says it promotes inclusivity

WESTBURY Town Council has upheld its pledge to be an inclusive council and says it welcomes approaches from groups who wish to promote inclusivity. The council had previously suggested events it could support, such as Diwali, Black History Month, Gay Pride, International Women’s Day, Eid and World Aids Day. However, town councillor, Matthew Dean, has questioned whether it should be the role of the town council to mark particular causes or events.

In December, Westbury Town Council approved a recommendation that any councillor who would like the town council to support a cause, should make a recommendation at least two months before the event. The town council said that as an inclusive council, “we support all forms of inclusivity and in support of this, we will welcome any approaches from any group seeking to promote inclusivity.”

However, at a town council meeting held on 8th January, cllr Matthew Dean put forward a motion asking councillors to rescind this decision.

Speaking at the meeting, cllr Dean said, “My view is that this council needs to focus on its core business and activities and I read with interest the emails that followed the debate from the working group, that suggested we should start marking particular causes and events. This is very difficult as we all have different views and priorities in this town.

“It was suggested that we mark World Aids Day – fine. But people that have lost relatives through cancer, heart disease and a myriad of other conditions may naturally ask for their day as well. Also, religion is by definition a matter of personal faith; it was interesting that the working group attempted to prioritise a number or religions, but you have to recognise that the majority of our society are secular if they are not Christian.

“I don’t think it’s this council’s place to earmark particular religions and festivals.

“Let’s not start marking individual causes or events in this way and instead let us concentrate our resources and expertise on delivering frontline services. If people want to celebrate a cause, they should be free to do so, but it’s not for us to use public money to support some of these causes, which will lead to division in the town.”

Westbury Mayor cllr Mike Sutton clarified, “The recommendation was that if anyone wanted to suggest that we recognise certain events, they would have the ability to bring it to this council with two months’ notice and only if town council as a body approved, would we then take up that invite. It’s not a question that we have voted to follow any event whatsoever, it was merely to give a councillor a right to bring that to council for discussion.”

Cllr Mark Bailey said, “I don’t really understand how any councillor could possibly have an objection to being seen as a member of an inclusive council.”

Interrupting him, cllr Dean said, “I’m not. It is unacceptable for other councillors to make personal remarks about one another; I haven’t said that.”

Cllr Bailey continued, “We are here to represent all of the Westbury residents not just some, regardless of race, colour, age and religion.”

Interrupting him again, cllr Dean said, “If cllr Bailey is suggesting that I don’t agree with these things, not only is that a slur against my character, but that’s wholly inappropriate.”

Cllr Bailey said, “This is the right thing to do but it is an obligation on us all as part of the public sector equality duty under the equality act. There will always be some people who lack the imagination to stand in another person’s shoes, those who say that work to improve inclusivity is a waste of time, money and resources. I believe they are wrong – if we can make at least one person feel less alone, more welcomed and more accepted, it will be worthwhile.

“In a time of increasing antisemitism, misogyny, extremism and intolerance for others, I believe it is more important than ever that this council takes a stand on inclusivity and does so publicly. This inclusivity recommendation does not commit the council to anything other than debate; there’s no mention of flags or posters.”