There were no black or minority ethnic staff members within the top five per cent of earners at Wycombe District Council as of March this year, it has been revealed. 

The figures were disclosed after Cllr Muhammad Hashmi raised concerns over a “clear lack of black and minority ethnic people in the top ranks” and asked council leader Cllr Katrina Wood what steps were being taken to address the issue. 

Cllr Wood said the council has a “a long-established aim of achieving a workforce that is in balance in terms of reflecting the composition of the local community” and that 19 per cent of the Wycombe district population is made up from people in ethnic minority communities and 50 per cent women. 

In comparison, 18 per cent of the council’s workforce were black and minority ethnic (BME) staff, while nine per cent of senior posts are held by people of BME backgrounds. 

Cllr Wood added that “WDC’s workforce profile is consistent with that of the wider local government sector” but reassured residents that work is ongoing to monitor the workforce and that the council offers recruitment and equalities training for employees and a mentoring scheme to support career development.