Council’s Conservative bosses again give men all top posts

VALE of Glamorgan Council has been criticised for giving men all the key roles in the cabinet, along with many other senior posts.

Council leader John Thomas appointed an unchanged cabinet team during its annual meeting last Wednesday, which means the Tory administration has again given all the major portfolios to men.

Councillor Leighton Rowlands, 28, was elected as Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan for the coming year, while for the Vale’s scrutiny committees, Councillor Vincent Bailey will head the environment and regeneration committee, Councillor George Carroll will be chairman of corporate performance and resources, and Councillor Vincent Driscoll will head licensing and public protection.

Opposition parties have criticised the lack of diversity in top positions.

The Conservatives have said they take diversity seriously and appointed the cabinet and scrutiny heads on experience.

Lis Burnett, who has been appointed to lead the learning and culture scrutiny committee, said the situation was “depressing”.

She said: “We have got a tremendous amount of talented women who can step into these roles.

“It’s a matter for the Tory administration to put their house in order. They are so dismissive of their women councillors.”

Concerns have also been raised that some councillors elected to senior positions have only been members since last year’s elections.

Councillor Ian Johnson, Plaid Cymru group leader on the council, said: “The most talented and skilled people should be appointed to roles in public life. That’s important to get the best public services.

“However there must be something wrong with the Conservatives if they think that a man is always the right choice for the Vale, whatever their age, experience and background.

“If I was a woman in the Tory group on the Vale Council, I would be asking why four men first elected last year have been given important roles with extra pay while I’ve been ignored.”

Heads of the other two scrutiny committees – healthy living, and homes and safe communities – will be appointed by a vote during their next meetings.

Of the Conservatives’ 23 councillors in the Vale, five are women. For Labour, there are nine women and five men, while Plaid has three men and one woman as councillors.