At a Full Council meeting on 17 March 2026, councillors reviewed a five-year progress report highlighting how the Motion has helped drive sustained change across a number of key areas including workforce representation, education, employment, public health and community development.

The report represents the fifth annual update on the Motion, which was introduced in response to local, national and international concerns about structural and systemic racism. Those concerns continue to inform the council's priorities and partnership work across Luton and with our communities.

The update was presented alongside progress on the UNISON Anti-Racism Charter, adopted by the council in 2025, as well as ongoing feedback to support the progress of the motion items by the BLM Community Panel Group.

Record workforce representation

Over the past five years, the council has made significant strides in improving workforce diversity – with targets not only met, but exceeded.

Progress reported includes:

• 26.5% of senior managers (M6+) now identify as being from an ethnic minority background – an increase of 8.5% since the Motion was first passed in 2021.
• 42% of council employees identify as being from an ethnically diverse background, exceeding the 36% target set for March 2026 and up from 29.4% in 2021.
• The council’s ethnicity pay gap has continued to narrow, with the mean gap falling to 6.9% in March 2024, down from 8% in 2023.

Public health: reducing inequalities, building trust

Addressing health inequalities affecting Luton’s Black communities, The Black Health Equity Group has been established with support from the council’s Public Health Directorate and chaired by a respected local community leader.

It works to better understand and respond to a range of health needs where Black African Caribbean communities experience disproportionate levels of disadvantage including mental health, social isolation and access to key services.

Meanwhile, the Cancer Community Connector Project has hosted 40 targeted community events and engaged directly with 1,516 residents from Black African Caribbean communities since 2023. The programme is helping to reduce stigma and barriers around cancer awareness, screening and treatment, while building greater trust in local health services.

Education: closing the gap

The report also highlights continued progress in education outcomes across the borough:

• Black Caribbean pupils at Key Stage 2 in Luton are now performing above their Black Caribbean peers nationally and slightly above the overall Luton average – a significant improvement on previous years.
• Disadvantaged pupils in the town also continue to outperform their disadvantaged peers nationally at both Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4.

Reaching communities: employment and skills

Investment in employment and skills programmes has also strengthened engagement with Luton's Black African Caribbean (BAC) community.

• Last year the council hosted 17 community job fairs, attracting more than 4,000 attendees. Nearly one in three participants (31.1%) identified as Black, African, Caribbean or Black British – demonstrating an effective and inclusive marketing campaign.
• Partnership work with the Reach Society, particularly through its annual Employability Day, has helped expand opportunities for young Black people seeking employment and career development.

Recognition, partnership and community voice

The five years since the Motion was passed have also included significant moments of cultural recognition and partnership working.

• Established in 2022, the BLM Community Panel has grown to 15 members, including four councillors and representatives from organisations reflecting the diversity of Luton’s Black communities. The group provides challenge, advice and co-production with the council and its key partners, helping to shape policy and ensure community voices remain central to the work.
• Windrush Civic Day, the Baako Festival, Black History Month, Sankova Celebration and the Black Unsung Heroes event now feature in community and civic calendars, attracting wider participation.
• Luton also now joins towns across the country in laying the Black Poppy wreath during Remembrance Day, recognising the contributions of Black, African and Caribbean service personnel.
• Cllr Maria Lovell MBE, the Council's Portfolio Holder for Women, Equalities and Community Safety, has been nominated to represent the Council on the national Windrush Committee – a UK Government-appointed group tasked with creating a permanent tribute to the Windrush generation and their descendants and a vital part of the broader effort to restore justice for those affected by the Windrush scandal.
• The council has also partnered with the University of Bedfordshire's Race Equality Network to co-host events during Race Equality Week, while the BLM Community Panel Group continues to provide direct community insight that informs policy and practice across the authority.

Anti-Racism Charter drives cultural change

Since the adoption of the Anti-Racism Charter in March 2025 – supported by UNISON, Unite the Union and GMB Union – the council has introduced a detailed action plan to embed anti-racism across the organisation.

Mandatory corporate training has been updated to include allyship and bystander intervention, while inclusive leadership principles have been integrated into the council's leadership and management development programmes.

Portfolio Holder for Women, Equalities and Community Safety Cllr Maria Lovell MBE said: “Five years ago, we made a commitment that we would take meaningful action on structural and systemic racism. The progress we are reporting today shows that commitment is translating into real, measurable change – in our workforce, our schools, and across our communities.

“But we know there is more to do. Representation of Black Caribbean people at senior management level, educational attainment at KS4, and strengthening our data and reporting processes are just a few of the priorities as we look ahead to the next five years. We remain fully committed to this agenda and to building a Luton built on fairness for all.”