Local authorities have been urged to do more to promote staff from black and ethnic communities after research from the GMB showed that white staff only held the top jobs in many councils in England.

The GMB says that in a number of local authorities, including Wiltshire, Hartlepool and Blackpool, North Tyneside, none of the top 5% of earners were from black or ethnic minority communities.

In contrast, authorities in parts of London, including Lambeth and Hackney, have one in four top earners from these groups.
In a number of areas, including Bath, Swindon, Hampshire, Portsmouth, Somerset, Norfolk and Cheshire, less than 1% of top earners were from black and ethnic minorities.  

Martin Smith, GMB national organiser, says:  "Some local councils have made great strides in promoting staff from black and ethnic minority communities to senior jobs in the councils. Other councils have a lot of ground to make up. They, and indeed other private sector employers, should seek to learn from the councils that have successfully promoted staff from black and ethnic minority communities to senior jobs.”