Decision details

The Director of City Development submitted a report which presented and invited the Board’s consideration of the findings and recommendations from the review undertaken into statues in Leeds by Honorary Alderwoman Alison Lowe.

The Chair welcomed Honorary Alderwoman Lowe to the meeting, who extended her thanks to all in the reference group who had contributed towards the independent review and presented to the Board the key findings and recommendations arising from it.

Members discussed the value of the review which had been undertaken, the importance of learning from and interpreting the past, highlighted the importance of celebrating the contributions which had been made to the city by a range of communities, and emphasised the potential for further cultural outcomes to be delivered as a result of the review being undertaken.

RESOLVED -

(a)  That Honorary Alderwoman Alison Lowe and the reference group be thanked for their important contribution to this work;

(b)  That it be noted that the review did not include proposals to remove any existing statues in Leeds, but that it recommends a number of initiatives to improve understanding of history, and to better recognise the role of diverse communities and individuals in the city;

(c)  That the Chief Officer Culture and Sport and the Chief Officer Parks and Countryside be requested to bring forward proposals to refresh public information boards in relation to statues on Woodhouse Moor in line with the recommendations in the review;

(d)  That the Council’s support for the development of a commemorative artwork in City Park honouring David Oluwale, and for the installation of Pippa Hale’s artwork ‘Ribbons’, as described in section 3 of the submitted report, be agreed;

(e)  That all the other recommendations of Honorary Alderwoman Lowe’s review, as listed in section 2.10 of the submitted report, be accepted, and that the Chief Officer Culture and Sport be requested to work with others in order to take these matters forward;

(f)  That the other initiatives, as described within section 3 of the submitted report, which are also being developed in response to the issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement, be noted.