Family leave boost
STEPHEN BARK
Councillors who want to start a family could soon be entitled to parental and adoption leave under new proposals from COSLA.
South Lanarkshire Council’s executive committee heard on Wednesday, December 4, that COSLA’s cross-party special interest group had identified the absence of formal family leave as a key barrier preventing individuals from standing or re-standing for elected office.
The new guidance will be considered by the full council in February.
Geraldine McCann, head of administration and legal services explained that statutory parental leave didn’t extend to councillors as they are not employees of the council.
She added: “COSLA recognise that this can put people off becoming elected members.
“In terms of section 35 of the Local Government Act 1973, a councillor must attend at least one meeting of the council or one committee meeting within a six-month period or they will be deemed to have vacated their role.
“A period of absence under this section can be extended with approval of the council.”
Currently, councillors are allowed an absence of six months as long as they attend one meeting in that time. If they wish to extend the period of leave, they would need to seek approval from the council.
If adopted, councillors would be entitled to up to six months of maternity leave, two weeks of paternity leave, six months of adoption leave or 26 weeks of shared parental leave if both parents are councillors.
Under the proposals, a minimum 28 days’ notice would need to be given to the council and senior councillors would continue to receive their Senior Responsibility Allowance (SRA) while on leave.
However, there are currently 18 senior councillors in South Lanarkshire with a maximum of 19 allowed, so there may be issues should two or more be on leave at the same time.
Councillor Katy Loudon (Cambuslang East) said: “This is something Cllr Calikes and I were keen to bring before council.
“It is partly about retaining experienced councillors and partly about allowing new people into local government. This isn’t about having days off, it is about setting a culture of change.”
Clydesdale West councillor Lynsey Hamilton welcomed the COSLA guidance but had some reservations. he said: “This is a step forward for female and male councillors. A minimum 28 days’ notice isn’t the easiest thing to do.
“In terms of SRAs, they should stay with the man or woman on leave, no other job would have the audacity to demote someone for having a child.”
Conservative group leader Cllr Alex Allison (Clydesdale East) also welcomed the new guidance but added: “I’m not sure how this will fit in with our standing orders.
“The way SRAs are set up is wrong. It’s wrong young mothers don’t get time off but also that those who step in to do that work don’t get recompensed for it.”
Labour group leader Cllr Joe Fagan (East Kilbride Central North) added: “I would like to express my solidarity with the sisters who spoke earlier.
“This gives a steer to councils. It is welcome progress as local government is changing.
“The timing is unfortunate but what we have is a simple and straight forward proposal.”
Pupils at Stonelaw High School will entertain family and friends this evening (Wednesday) at 7pm when they take to the assembly hall stage for their Christmas concert.
Performances will include guitar, percussion, brass and woodwind ensembles, the concert band, senior and junior choirs, Christmas duets, the ceilidh band, and a sneak preview from school show, Grease.