Nottingham City Council is set to introduce maternity and paternity allowances for its councillors, after it became the first authority in the country with a majority of female members.
The move aims to reflect a younger and more diverse intake of councillors at the last election and to make public office more of an option for people who might otherwise feel excluded from it.
In the 2019 election, a new cohort of councillors saw the number of women increase to 29 out of 55, with eight out of the 10 Executive councillors being women.
22 councillors and four Executive Assistants are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.
There is currently no legal right to parental leave of any kind for people in elected public office.
However, the authority feels this is a potential barrier to attracting candidates from a diverse range of experiences, ages and backgrounds, as well as to retaining experienced councillors, especially women.
The proposal to introduce maternity and paternity allowance would see all members continue to receive their basic allowance of £12,828.13 in full while on maternity, paternity or adoption leave.
The move is part of wider changes to councillors’ allowances, which includes removing a special allowance previously given to eight Area Committee Chairs, saving £47,000, after the position was scrapped in response to changes at the council.
Commenting, Leader of Nottingham City Council, Councillor David Mellen said:
“I am proud of the fact that we have a young and diverse group of councillors who truly reflect our vibrant, diverse and ambitious city.
“I think it’s right that we make it possible for councillors who become parents to continue in their roles and that we have arrangements in place which remove any potential obstacles for anyone who would otherwise want to contribute to public life as a local councillor.”
The proposal will be discussed at a meeting of the authority’s full council on Monday 19 July.
