Agenda item

(a)  That the principle of a policy for Parental Leave for Councillors be agreed.

(b)  That the proposed Policy as set out in Appendix A be noted and that the Monitoring Officer report any necessary and consequential amendments to the Constitution to the Member Panel on the Constitution and Audit and Corporate Governance Committee prior to a recommendation to Council.

A report was considered that sought the Cabinet’s endorsement for a new policy of parental leave for councillors.  The policy had been discussed by the Member Panel on the Constitution and Audit & Corporate Governance Committee prior to a recommendation being made to Council.

There was no legal right to parental leave of any kind for people in elected public office and as at 2017 only 4% of local authorities had such a policy in place.  Lead Members commented that they anticipated the policy would encourage a diverse group of councillors and remove some of the barriers that may prevent more people coming forward to serve as members.  The draft policy appended to the report covered Members’ entitlement to maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave and relevant allowances.  It also included special circumstances for perinatal bereavement.

Discussion had been held across the Council about the principle of introducing such as policy and it was hoped that it could be agreed on a cross-party basis.  The Cabinet fully supported the principle of the policy and endorsed the proposal.

Resolved –

(a)  That the principle of a policy for Parental Leave for Councillors be agreed.

(b)  That the proposed Policy as set out in Appendix A be noted and that the Monitoring Officer report any necessary and consequential amendments to the Constitution to the Member Panel on the Constitution and Audit and Corporate Governance Committee prior to a recommendation to Council.

(Councillor Sadiq joined the meeting)