Calls for more female representation at council

A county women’s equality group is calling on Herefordshire Council to address its ‘stark gender imbalance’.

Maggie Steel, of Herefordshire’s Women’s Equality Group, said currently only one of the eight cabinet members is female and less than a third of all county councillors are.

Nigel Shaw, finance and corporate services cabinet member, said council representation was ultimately made up by the councillors elected by the public.

He said: “The prerequisite before we see a change in the gender balance is to see more women standing in elections to give the electorate a real choice in who they want to represent them.

“Herefordshire Council is taking active steps to encourage a more diverse group of candidates to stand for election.

“Building on the Local Government Association’s ‘Be a Councillor’ campaign, we will be running a local campaign designed to encourage a wider range of people to consider standing for election either as a Herefordshire councillor or as a parish councillor in the county.

“This will include elements targeted at encouraging more women, younger people and ethnic minority groups to consider standing for election.

“As well as existing councillors describing their motivations and work as locally elected representatives, we will be publishing on the council’s website details of the support that councillors elected to Herefordshire Council can expect to receive in terms of training, allowances, computer equipment and supporting policies, such as child or dependent carer support, maternity leave, and reasonable adjustment for disabled people.

“I am pleased to note that some of my colleague female councillors from Herefordshire Council are attending the Women’s Equality Group meeting to mark European Democracy Week on 17 October, and welcome the support of the Women’s Equality Group in raising the profile of this important issue.”

Ms Steel suggested that a more equal representation could be achieved by the administration group taking on female councillors from other groups.

However, coun Shaw said this would be an unusual arrangement and such level of cross party working was seen during times of national crisis.

The Women’s Equality Group meeting is on October 18 at 7.30pm at the Kindle Centre. They will be discussing the issue of under representation of women in local democracy.