Agenda item

Unconscious Bias Training and Nomenclature

Report of the Town Clerk.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk which had been submitted on behalf of the Members’ Diversity Working Party. The report set out proposals relating to unconscious bias training and for the introduction of a gender-neutral title to replace the term ‘Common Councilman’.

 

Members reflected that the term ‘Common Councillor’ would be preferable to the generic ‘Councillor’, as it better reflected the distinction of the role from that of councillors at local authorities. It also provided for a greater link to the historic background of the City Corporation and the role.

 

In response to questions concerning the costs of unconscious bias training, it was suggested that this could be met from the dedicated Members’ training budget.

 

RESOLVED: That:-

1.         Unconscious bias training for Members be included in the Member Development Programme.

2.         The gender-neutral title of Common Councillor  be used in all communications and documents, other than documents intended to have legal effect.

 

Supporting documents: