The Strategic Director of Place will present a report (Document “AC”) of Phase 2 of the externally led Monuments Review, which has taken forward and implemented the recommendations from Phase 1.  Much has been achieved in fulfilment of the ambition to increase awareness and understanding of our key local statues and any links to colonialism and slavery; to create educational resources; and to provide opportunities for communities to tell their diverse stories. 

Whilst the driver and starting point for this project was Black Lives Matter,

the learning from this project now needs to be taken forward and embedded in the Council’s approach to diversity and inclusion and to representation of all our communities in the public realm.  The work does not stop here, but will continue as part of our plans for Bradford2025, the regeneration of the city centre, and through our strategies for place-making and heritage across the District.   

Thanks are due to the external Steering Group for their invaluable help in conducting this Review, which has already started to have a wider impact on thinking about representation – who, how and why we should publicly recognise individuals and groups. As well as the learning materials created, the Group will have a lasting legacy through its involvement in ongoing work with committees related to Blue Plaques and a Commonwealth War memorial, and with an offer to remaining a sounding board for the Council on relevant issues. 

Recommended that -

(1)  The Council acknowledges the work of the project in creating new educational and learning materials about our Monuments and Black History across the District, in identifying individuals from across our diverse communities who deserve recognition, and in encouraging nominations for recognition from our diverse communities; and thanks the external Steering Group for their invaluable contribution to this Review. 

(2)  The Council fully supports the proposal to create a memorial to local soldiers from Commonwealth countries who died in the First and Second World Wars.

(3)  The Council adopts a transparent policy and process for making decisions about the addition of any new statues and monuments to the public realm for which it is responsible (e.g. public streets, squares and parks), that is mindful of ensuring equality and diversity of representation, and is focused on the significance of any featured individual’s contribution to Bradford and beyond – in a similar way to conferring the Freedom of the City.

(4)  The Council uses the opportunity of the City of Culture 2025 bid to create a lasting celebration of the diversity of the District, the history of migration to Bradford, and the previously untold stories and contribution of people from across the District, noting the ideas set out in section 3.5.

(5)  The Council recognises the value of the Steering Group’s work by continuing to use it as a reference group for relevant issues and decisions as required, for example in relation to the current consideration of post-Covid commemorations and memorials. 

Regeneration and Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee

(Christine May - 07970 829265)

The Strategic Director of Place presented a report (Document “AC”) of Phase 2 of the externally led Monuments Review, which had taken forward and implemented the recommendations from Phase 1.  Much had been achieved in fulfilment of the ambition to increase awareness and understanding of our key local statues and any links to colonialism and slavery; to create educational resources; and to provide opportunities for communities to tell their diverse stories. 

Whilst the driver and starting point for this project was Black Lives Matter,

the learning from this project now needs to be taken forward and embedded in the Council’s approach to diversity and inclusion and to representation of all our communities in the public realm.  The work does not stop here, but will continue as part of our plans for Bradford2025, the regeneration of the city centre, and through our strategies for place-making and heritage across the District.   

Thanks were due to the external Steering Group for their invaluable help in conducting this Review, which had already started to have a wider impact on thinking about representation – who, how and why we should publicly recognise individuals and groups. As well as the learning materials created, the Group would have a lasting legacy through its involvement in ongoing work with committees related to Blue Plaques and a Commonwealth War memorial, and with an offer to remaining a sounding board for the Council on relevant issues. 

The Health People and Places Portfolio Holder welcomed the report and referred to the work of Shape UK in seeking to redress the balance locally brought into sharp focus with the recent Inquiry into the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which concluded that hundreds of thousands of black and Asian service personnel who died fighting for the British Empire had not been formally commemorated in the same way as their white counterparts.The Operations Director of Shape UK attended the meeting and sought the Council’s support for a proposal to create a memorial for local soldiers from Commonwealth countries who died in the First and Second World Wars.  He also sought support to establish a steering group and ensure that there was BAME representation at events such as remembrance day and armed forces day.

The leader thanked all soldiers for their service to the nation.  She recognised that a large number of memorials in the District had been in place for a very long time and acknowledged the need to celebrate the story of the people of Bradford in more recent years. She welcomed the proposal led by Shape UK regarding a Commonwealth War Memorial and their involvement in the remembrance day events.

Resolved -

(1)  That the Executive acknowledges the work of the project in creating new educational and learning materials about our Monuments and Black History across the District, in identifying individuals from across our diverse communities who deserve recognition, and in encouraging nominations for recognition from our diverse communities; and thanks the external Steering Group for their invaluable contribution to this Review. 

(2)  That the Executive fully supports the proposal to create a memorial to local soldiers from Commonwealth countries who died in the First and Second World Wars.

(3)  That the Executive adopts a transparent policy and process for making decisions about the addition of any new statues and monuments to the public realm for which it is responsible (e.g. public streets, squares and parks), that is mindful of ensuring equality and diversity of representation, and is focused on the significance of any featured individual’s contribution to Bradford and beyond – in a similar way to conferring the Freedom of the City.

(4)  That the Executive uses the opportunity of the City of Culture 2025 bid to create a lasting celebration of the diversity of the District, the history of migration to Bradford, and the previously untold stories and contribution of people from across the District, noting the ideas set out in section 3.5.

(5)  That the Executive recognises the value of the Steering Group’s work by continuing to use it as a reference group for relevant issues and decisions as required, for example in relation to the current consideration of post-Covid commemorations and memorials. 

Regeneration and Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee

ACTION: Strategic Director of Place