A Bexley councillor is set to call on the authority to address “hundreds of accounts” of racist incidents in the borough, saying “another report that gets filed away isn’t going to be enough”.

Labour councillor Mabel Ogundayo will move a motion at next week’s full council meeting calling on the authority to commit to working with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnicity (BAME) communities in Bexley, as well as stepping up action to “root out” racism in the borough.

It’s the latest action from Cllr Ogundayo, who was born in Nigeria, and who last month authored a seven-point action plan to tackle racism in Bexley.

“I’ve asked the council to publicly acknowledge the historic and present day racism and the hundreds of accounts of racism in Bexley shared on Twitter in recent weeks and they haven’t done so,” the Thamesmead East ward member told the local democracy reporting service.

While the council’s communities overview and scrutiny group is set to undertake a group workshop on BAME inequalities in the borough, that wasn’t enough, Cllr Ogundayo added.

News Shopper: Cllr Mabel Ogundayo's letter from last month. Cllr Mabel Ogundayo's letter from last month.

“There has to be public recognition of the issues, followed by immediate action. Another report that gets filed away isn’t going to be enough,” she said.

Her statement in full asks the council to work with and address concerns raised by BAME communities in the borough.

“Bexley Council stands in solidarity with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities in Bexley and across the globe in their fight for justice in the face of racism in all its forms,” her motion states.

“We commit to working with our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities to further understand the harm and pain past and present-day racism has caused, and address the concerns raised. We commit to rooting out racism within our own institution, partnering institutions and our public arena, as well as celebrating the growing cultural diversity within our borough.”

Cllr Ogundayo last month posted a letter detailing a seven-point action plan to tackle racism, saying in it that the death of George Floyd “has led to an awakening of the real issues of racism and inequality across the globe”.

“In recent weeks, I have been informed of and seen many accounts of racism Black people have experienced within our Borough, both in the public arena and within the education system,” she wrote.

“Bexley has a growing Black population and it is important that we make sure all residents feel welcome and valued. However, sadly this has not been the case thus far.”

The letter, addressed to Bexley Council leader Teresa O’Neill and CEO Jackie Belton, stated actions the authority could take included setting up a forum where people living or being schooled in the borough could “share their experiences of racism”.

The Thamesmead East representative also advocated for regular meetings with police to discuss stop and search inequalities in the borough.