A council leader has declared a review into racial inequalities as he called on colleagues to "seize the moment".

Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite made the announcement at a cabinet meeting held last week to consider the authority's financial standing amid the fallout of the Covid-19 crisis.

"I don't think we can remain silent, nor should we," he said. "I do think we need to address the needs of our community on this matter."

It comes as mass Black Lives Matter (BLM) demonstrations were held around the world last month in response to the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, America, on May 25.

Opposition Labour councillors had submitted an emergency proposal to consider an urgent "race audit" but the council said it arrived too late to consider in full.

In response Cllr Kite said they would indeed launch a review, adding the onset of the BLM movement had "galvanised" them to "seize the moment".

He said: "I don't think as a council we can possibly ignore the events which are taking place in this country and around the world."

But hastened to add they were "not starting from scratch" and already had in place a "huge bedrock of work".

Cllr Victoria Oguntope (Lab) shares her thoughts on the BLM protests

Cllr Kite explained how Conservative-controlled Dartford council were handed the reigns in 2003, amid a backdrop of issues which included overt racism in the community.

The Tory mentioned it had been increasingly alarmed by the presence of the far-right British National Party which had set up its offices at a bookshop in Welling, "over the border" in Bexley.

"We had members of the community in Dartford who were very sympathetic to the views of the BNP," he said. "Some of them even tried to stand for election in Dartford."

This included Britain First leader Paul Golding, who was elected as a BNP councillor for Swanley in 2009 until 2011.

Cllr Kite said: "It was very clear to us that we needed to move then and it is very clear to me that we need to move now."

And while he was keen to address "overt" racism he said the council also needed to be just as mindful of any "hidden barriers" to members of the community.

"It is heartbreaking and more pragmatically it is also bad practice for the economy, the community and everyone's lives if someone can't contribute because of some artificial barrier placed in their way," he said.

"However much we try we must never make the assumption that we have succeeded."

The council leader said it was crucial they "did not make assumptions" and embarked on a review which reflected the community today, adding the last census taken in Dartford in 2011 was simply not reflective of its needs today.

He said: "It is fair to say our demographic make up, our cosmopolitan nature and the way our community is changing is very very marked.

"We are increasingly global," he said. "It is absolutely crucial that every local community reflects that global nature," he said before adding it doesn't mean we have to "disavow our own traditions".

Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley Cllr Calvin McLean (Con), has been tasked with leading the review which is due to report by the end of the year.

Around the country councils have been undergoing audits of statues and monuments linked to slavery or those which appear to commemorate perpetrators of racial prejudice.

But it is not yet clear whether this will form a cornerstone of the council's strategy to improve race relations.

"It is going to be a living document for decades," Cllr Kite said.

"We must be prepared to hear complaints. We must be prepared to here the truth about us.

"It may not be our experience but it does not mean it is no one's experience. Everyone of use will have a huge part to play."

"We must be prepared to here the truth about us."

The Dartford Labour group were pleased by the announcement which they said showed a shared commitment to the "life experiences of members of diverse and minority communities".

Temple Hill Councillor Alina Gaskin (Lab) said: "We all agree racial prejudice has no place in Dartford and we want to ensure structural inequalities are not allowed to persist and hold people back.

"We proposed using Runnymead Trust to undertake an audit as they are an independent group who specialise in this.

"We very much hope that we can work with the ruling administration on this, to carry our proposals forward alongside other stakeholders."

Fellow Temple Hill Cllr Victoria Oguntope (Lab), who has previously spoken out on her experiences as a black woman and councillor, also welcomed the initiative as a "great step forward".

But added she felt the equality review should be carried out by an independent party to allow for a fair assessment and transparent outcome.

She said: "Dartford has seen a growth of people from various backgrounds particularly in the black and brown community - they have chosen our town to be their home and to raise their children and grandchildren.

"I hope the council will recognise the value they hold and contribute to our community.

"The value that defines them should not be dismissed or ignored equally, their history like other historical achievements should be celebrated along with all other communities.

"The council should embrace all celebratory occasions and community its residents holds to allow for equal footing in and outside of the council structure eg employment, social economic and housing.

"These various groups forms the fabric of our community and it should be embraced and celebrated."