Council adds childcare allowance

Under a policy to attract younger parents as future candidates, Marlborough councillors will now be able to claim reimbursement for childcare costs.

In its final full council meeting for the year, the Marlborough District Council reviewed its elected members’ allowance and reimbursement policy.

While councillors said they would not use the childcare allowance, mayor John Leggett said the addition could make elected positions more attractive to parents of young children.

‘‘Hopefully there will come a time when there are some younger councillors sitting around the table,’’ Leggett said.

‘‘If we include the childcare allowance provision in there even though it may not be used, it is a signal that we are very open to perhaps a younger candidate coming forward.’’ The childcare allowance was an addition made by the Remuneration Authority this year, contributing towards expenses incurred for childcare while councillors were engaged in local authority business.

District councils could choose to add the childcare allowance to existing reimbursement policies.

The report, prepared by Mike Porter, was in response to concern from the local government sector that childcare may be a financial barrier for potential councillors, especially women.

With the addition, councils could reimburse elected members for childcare, up to $6000 for each child under 14. The Tasman District Council and the Nelson City Council both approved the childcare allowance.

The council initially discussed adopting the existing policy – without the childcare addition – as no councillors needed to claim the childcare allowance.

Councillor Jamie Arbuckle was the only elected member with a child under the age of 14 but said he would not seek childcare reimbursement.

The council then discussed maintaining the addition as an incentive for parents to consider elected office. Councillor Gerald Hope suggested the addition be maintained as a ‘‘backup’’ in the case of a by-election, to be inclusive to potential new candidates.

Councillor Jenny Andrews said she hoped the addition could one day include care of an aged relative.