Recommendations made by councillors that have not ruled out changing street names reflecting “negative history” in Watford are set to be debated.

A task group set up by Watford Borough Council to respond to the "disproportionate" impact Covid-19 has had on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities as well as looking at street naming policy will present its final report at a virtual Cabinet meeting this evening (March 1).

The group, which was set up by the council last year, wanted to explore the issues that mattered to BAME communities and "develop recommendations that would deliver change and improved outcomes".

But they also recognised the Black Lives Matter movement, which according to a council report, "has highlighted symbols of the past, including street names which memorialise individuals who played a role in the slave trade and British imperialism".

The task group met virtually since it was set up in September and the final recommendations presented to a council overview and scrutiny committee on February 4 were agreed on by councillors.

Read more - Group set up in light of BLM movement have not ruled out changing street names

Councillors at tonight’s Cabinet meeting will consider the task group’s recommendations for approval.

Among the group's recommendations was adopting a new street naming policy for Watford, which includes setting out the process for reviewing existing street names.

Last summer Labour councillor Asif Khan, who sat on the task group, put forward a motion to change several street names which he believed "are named after people who were involved in the slave trade, colonisation and oppression".

The Leggatts ward councillor said in the motion that street names, buildings, statues and monuments should "reflect our town and that they do not contain any of the negative history which this town abhors".

Street names listed in the motion, which was passed by councillors at the time, included Imperial Way, Colonial Way, Clive Way and Rhodes Way.

As part of the proposed street naming policy, residents and businesses in affected roads would be consulted should street renaming be taken forward.

The policy recommended by the task group also looks at naming new streets and buildings to “reflect the rich diversity of the town”.

It was also recommended that the council should commission Watford Museum to develop an education programme based around a new exhibition “which explores the background and history of the town’s road names, including those identified as having negative historic links”.

Seven other recommendations made by the task group, including agreeing a corporate definition of BAME at the council, will also be considered by councillors this evening.

Cllr Favour Ezeifedi, who chaired the task group, said: ““The recommendations from this task group represent a significant milestone in supporting our community through the pandemic and in celebrating the diversity of our town.

"I am very pleased for the overwhelming support it has received. We will continue to champion that the recommendations are implemented within the specified timelines.”

Tonight's council meeting gets underway at 7pm. More information can be found by clicking here