The newly established citizens’ tribunal is set to announce the dates of their open meetings, to which members of the public are invited to join, participate and share their views on how to tackle racial inequality.
The tribunal has been set up following the Ealing Race Equality Commission, to act as an independent body to the council, to track the council’s progress in delivering the demands of the commission, and ensure the council meet them. Members met for the first-time last month, on 13 October, where they established their priority areas and the best ways of working together to create real and effective change.
The tribunal is designed to be fully independent of the council and holds ten members, including the newly selected chair Denise Charles, co-founder of Descendants. The members each offer a wide range of knowledge and expertise, that they will bring to the commission from their own backgrounds and experience.
Their objectives and priorities for tackling racial inequalities in the borough include education, health, housing, employment, and policing, with specific demands for each area outlined for what action the council and partner organisations need to take.
The tribunal will be holding open, online meetings, where people who work, live or study in the borough can attend and come together to understand the challenges, discuss areas of concern, and support each other in putting forward solutions, to create effective change.
Leader of the Council, Peter Mason said: “There remain some very deep-rooted inequalities in our borough that hold too many people back from reaching their dreams and aspirations. The citizens’ tribunal has been designed to be fully independent, to ensure we remain accountable, and to hold us and others to the promises we have made to do something about it.”
Councillor Aysha Raza, member for tackling inequalities commented: “The tribunal will play an important role in providing a new approach to working with the community, to highlight people’s concerns and finding ways to create a fairer borough with opportunities for all.”
