Agenda item

This Council notes:

• That analysis of the 2018 Local Election results by the Fawcett Society found that only 34% of councillors in England are women, up 1% since 2017;
• That across England, Labour has improved its representation since seats were last up for grabs, with 45% women compared with 40% in 2014, Liberal Democrat representation up from 34% to 36% whilst the Conservative Party saw a fall from 31% to 29% in the share of its councillors who are female;
• That as of the 2018 local elections, only 26 out of 119 Labour councils and only 33 out of 130 opposition Labour Groups are led by women;
• As of summer 2017, only 4% of councils in England and Wales have parental leave policies, according to research by the Fawcett Society;
• That the equalities section of the Labour Party Democracy Review mandates all Labour councils and Labour Groups to introduce a parental leave policy to cover their group and their council as applicable;
• That the role of a councillor should be open to all, regardless of their background, and that introducing a parental leave policy is a step towards encouraging a wider range of people to become councillors, and is also a step to encourage existing councillors who may want to start a family to remain as councillors;
• That parental leave must apply to parents regardless of their gender, and that it should also cover adoption leave to support those parents who choose to adopt.

This Council resolves:

• To adopt the parental leave policy attached to give all councillors an entitlement to parental leave after giving birth or adopting;
• To ensure that councillors with children and other caring commitments are supported as appropriate;
• To notify the LGA that this council has passed a motion at full council to adopt the parental leave policy.

Further details of the proposed policy can be found on pages 97-100.

Councillor Sutton, seconded by Councillor Denham, moved a Notice of Motion in the following terms:-

• That analysis of the 2018 Local Election results by the Fawcett Society found that only 34% of councillors in England are women, up 1% since 2017;
• That across England, Labour has improved its representation since seats were last up for grabs, with 45% women compared with 40% in 2014, Liberal Democrat representation up from 34% to 36% whilst the Conservative Party saw a fall from 31% to 29% in the share of its councillors who are female;
• That as of the 2018 local elections, only 26 out of 119 Labour councils and only 33 out of 130 opposition Labour Groups are led by women;
• As of summer 2017, only 4% of councils in England and Wales have parental leave policies, according to research by the Fawcett Society;
• That the equalities section of the Labour Party Democracy Review mandates all Labour councils and Labour Groups to introduce a parental leave policy to cover their group and their council as applicable;
• That the role of a councillor should be open to all, regardless of their background, and that introducing a parental leave policy is a step towards encouraging a wider range of people to become councillors, and is also a step to encourage existing councillors who may want to start a family to remain as councillors;
• That parental leave must apply to parents regardless of their gender, and that it should also cover adoption leave to support those parents who choose to adopt.

This Council resolves:

• To adopt the parental leave policy (attached) to give all councillors an entitlement to parental leave after giving birth or adopting;
• To ensure that councillors with children and other caring commitments are supported as appropriate;
• To notify the LGA that this council has passed a motion at full council to adopt the parental leave policy.

In presenting the Notice of Motion, Councillor Sutton stated that it was important that Exeter City Council decision making was representative of the wider population.  She reiterated the support for Councillors in their child bearing years and also for those parents who wished to adopt. She felt the same rights afforded by the Council’s parental policy, which included maternity leave, should be offered to Councillors. It was important to ensure that parents were able to carry out their jobs with the appropriate support.

She sought the support of her fellow Councillors.

In seconding the Notice of Motion, Councillor Denham thanked Councillor Sutton for bringing forward this Motion. She referred to a number of Councils around the country who had expanded their maternity provision.  She referred to her own experience as a new mother and although this was also a personal matter, she hoped that all Members would be in favour. The lack of maternity leave particularly over a four year commitment could discourage those seeking to become a Council Member. She felt the public had a right to expect that their elected representatives would be able to carry out their role, and enjoy the same benefits of maternity leave. She also referred to the importance of ensuring additional leave for those mothers with premature babies.

The Notice of Motion was put to the vote and carried unanimously.