FOI request details
Request
Subject: Contested history in council areas
Reference: WBC-FOI-00394
I am interested in issues of race in the built environment
For the last year up to date, but inclusive of information and documents from work which may have begun before this period and is still being pursued by the council.
(For example, a project to identify monument may have begun in 2020, but the list compiled from this project may still be used by the council now)
1
Could you please provide any list or review/research/report/survey of locations (streets/buildings/parks), or public art (such as statues), plaques, commemorations, graves, memorials that the council has produced in relation to slavery, colonialism, empire/British Empire, racism, white supremacy, Black Lives Matter, decolonising, racial justice.
In question form: 'What in the built environment has the organisation, or a group working on its behalf, identified as being linked to racism, slavery, colonialism: that is, contested history?'
2
Could you please provide details of what being done to highlight, reinterpret, redisplay, or rename aspects of the environment in the council area identifying in part 1 of this request
In question form: 'What work (such as adding interpretation, or information boards, or plaques close to contested monuments) has been undertaken by the council to address these legacies?
3
If applicable, can you please provide information on what is being done to address issues of slavery, colonialism, empire/British Empire, racism, white supremacy, Black Lives Matter, decolonising, racial justice in council museums?
For example, what information boards have been added, what has been taken off display or put on display, what new plaques have been erected?
4
The same as for part 3, but can you provide information on how council libraries have addressed these issues
For example, have any books been specifically banned or removed from the library? Has a system of trigger warnings been established for sensitive topics?
(This can be broad, I do not need an full check of all items in the library; please do not get bogged won in this if it is likely to go over the limit)
5
For the above work to address contested history, can you please provide information any grants received by the council to pursue this work, or any payments or grants made by the council to pursue this work (for example, to a local anti-racism group tasked with identifying contested history)
6
Can you provide information on any schools in the council area that have applied to change their name in relation to issues of contested history
Response
Full Disclosure - 8 February 2023
For the last year up to date, but inclusive of information and documents from work which may have begun before this period and is still being pursued by the council.
(For example, a project to identify monument may have begun in 2020, but the list compiled from this project may still be used by the council now)
1
Could you please provide any list or review/research/report/survey of locations (streets/buildings/parks), or public art (such as statues), plaques, commemorations, graves, memorials that the council has produced in relation to slavery, colonialism, empire/British Empire, racism, white supremacy, Black Lives Matter, decolonising, racial justice.
In question form: 'What in the built environment has the organisation, or a group working on its behalf, identified as being linked to racism, slavery, colonialism: that is, contested history?'
No formal review has been undertaken by the Council or any committee connected to it.
Residents have highlighted concerns about some street names in a private housing development, but these are private roads on a privately owned and managed development over which the Council has no control or jurisdiction. Our understanding is that those concerns have been raised directly by residents with the landowner.
2
Could you please provide details of what being done to highlight, reinterpret, redisplay, or rename aspects of the environment in the council area identifying in part 1 of this request
In question form: 'What work (such as adding interpretation, or information boards, or plaques close to contested monuments) has been undertaken by the council to address these legacies?
N/A
3
If applicable, can you please provide information on what is being done to address issues of slavery, colonialism, empire/British Empire, racism, white supremacy, Black Lives Matter, decolonising, racial justice in council museums?
For example, what information boards have been added, what has been taken off display or put on display, what new plaques have been erected?
N/A
4
The same as for part 3, but can you provide information on how council libraries have addressed these issues
For example, have any books been specifically banned or removed from the library? Has a system of trigger warnings been established for sensitive topics?
(This can be broad, I do not need an full check of all items in the library; please do not get bogged won in this if it is likely to go over the limit)
From our stock policy we set out our commitment as follows when selecting materials:
The commitment to equal opportunities means that librarians that are choosing books will consider language, tone, illustrations, and content when taking selection decisions, if other considerations do not take precedence.
Selecting librarians look out for and actively select material with positive images:
Positive images are those which present individuals, groups or cultures in a way that illustrates their value, self esteem and power of self determination and encourages a sense of self respect.
5
For the above work to address contested history, can you please provide information any grants received by the council to pursue this work, or any payments or grants made by the council to pursue this work (for example, to a local anti-racism group tasked with identifying contested history)
No grants received or allocated
6
Can you provide information on any schools in the council area that have applied to change their name in relation to issues of contested history
N/A
Please note that our responses were accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of release, and have not subsequently been updated. This information should be considered an historical record only.