A TOWN council has agreed to new measures after one of its own ‘endorsed and shared’ a racist social media post.
Buckingham Town Council (BTC) will have equalities training and ‘actively oppose all discrimination’ after Cllr Geraldine Collins was found to have breached the town council code of conduct by a Bucks Council hearings sub-committee.
It is alleged that on August 4, 2020, Cllr Collins reposted a “racist post” on her personal Facebook account to fellow councillor Lisa O’Donoghue.
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It appears Cllr Collins forwarded the post to Cllr O’Donoghue, writing “thought this was good”.
Subsequently, complaints about the post were made to the council.
Cllr Collins also faced pressure to step down by Black Lives Matter Buckingham (BLMB).
Part of the original FB post (redacted)
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And following a town council meeting on April 11, BTC agreed to adopt the following recommendations by Bucks Council:
- BTC to have equalities training, including Cllr Collins
- BTC to have training for use of social media
Councillors also agreed a motion proposed by Cllr Jon Harvey to “actively seek out ways” to ‘oppose all forms of discrimination’.
A diversity and inclusion group will meet after Easter.
“The town council received Buckinghamshire Council’s decision concerning a complaint made about Councillor Geraldine Collins at the meeting held on Monday 11th April 2022,” the town clerk said.
“The town council had no power to reject or add to the decision. The town council will now carry out the report’s recommendation.”
“Discrimination, abuse and hate undermines the spirit and the wellbeing of our civil society here in our town,” Cllr Harvey said.
“Buckingham Town Council reaffirms its policy of being against all forms of discrimination (including racism) and for inclusion, diversity and parity of esteem.
“Consequently, the town council pledges to be forever committed to making sure all members of our community are and feel included and respected, while simultaneously opposing proactively all forms of discrimination.
“To this end, the town council will actively seek out ways in which we might do this.”
Cllr Collins was unavailable for further comment.
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