A co-opted seat on CSP Council is to be offered to a member of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) network, following discussions between the diversity network convenors and the council chair.
The offer is in response to BAME network members’ requests for a voice on council at the earliest opportunity without having to wait for the outcome of the next election in 2021. Council have recognised that hearing the voice of BAME members in its decision-making is not currently sufficiently achieved. The selected member will be invited to join the next meeting on 22 and 23 September.
Alex Mackenzie, chair of council, said: ‘Our council regulations include the possibility of co-option, and this is a good opportunity to trial one way of bringing a BAME perspective to council decisions. However, this is not the only solution, and we have a number of plans to ensure equality, diversity and inclusion issues are taken into account in our work.
‘The co-opted member will attend all council meetings and be able to take part in discussions on all items, but they will not have a vote and will not be accountable for council decisions. This is in line with our constitutional requirements for all council members to be elected by CSP members.’
BAME network convenors, Mohammad Shoiab and Marina Laurie, said: ‘We are happy that CSP Council have responded to our request by offering a co-option seat for the BAME network and look forward to identifying a representative from the network to be elected to the seat.’
Any member of the BAME network are interested in being elected to the co-opted seat should email Siân Caulfield Caulfields@csp.org.uk by Monday 7 September.
Over the past two years, members of the diversity networks have taken up opportunities to shadow council members and observe council meetings. For more information about these opportunities, please contact our governance team at governance@csp.org.uk.
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