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Does local government work for women?

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does local government work for women?, Fawcett Society, one-year commission, Consider the impact of women’s under-representation on local decision making.

Local government plays an important role in all our lives: it provides vital care and social services, influences economic development in our neighbourhoods and is a vital part of the UK’s democratic system, and local councils spend around £95 billion a year

Women make up over 75 per cent of the local government workforce – but only 33 per cent of local councillors, 19 per cent of elected mayors and 13 per cent of council leaders are women.

‘Local and Equal – does local government work for women?’ is a year-long commission by the Fawcett Society and the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) to answer the question: does local government work for women?

The commission is jointly chaired by Dame Margaret Hodge MP and Councillor Gillian Keegan, director of Women2Win, is being funded by the Barrow Cadbury Trust, and has a host of expert commissioners with expertise in local government, women and BAME political representation and devolution: Angela Mason, Labour Councillor for Camden,  and former chair of Fawcett; Anne Baldwin, Women’s Local Government Society; Binita Mehta, former Conservative group leader, Watford Borough Council; Chris Naylor, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham; Deborah Cadman, Suffolk County Council; Heather Wakefield, Unison; Helen Edwards, Department for Communities and Local Government; Jemima Olchawski, Fawcett Society, Jen Pufky, LGIU; Judith Blake, Leeds City Council; Lauren Lucas, LGIU; Nan Sloane, Centre for Women and Democracy; Pam Cole, Women’s Budget Group; Sam Smethers, Fawcett Society; Sarah Pickup, LGA; Shaminder Takhar, LSBU; Simon Woolley, Operation Black Vote; Halla Gunnarsdóttir, Women’s Equality Party; Rita Patel, Operation Black Vote; and Baroness Meral Hussein-Ece, from the Liberal Democrat Party.

The Commission wants to understand the barriers to equal representation in local government for women.

It look at this issue and consider the particular experiences of women from a range of backgrounds, including black and minority ethnic (BAME) women and women with caring responsibilities.

It will also consider the impact of women’s under-representation on local decision making and women’s wider engagement in local politics.

After examining the evidence and best practice on these issues it will make concrete proposals that should ensure that local government really works for women.

The Commission will use a number of means to gather and test the evidence on this issue.

It will hold evidence-gathering sessions on issues facing women in local government including councillors, officers, leaders and devolution.

It will consult the public: say if you think local government works for women or ask your local female councillor to give us their experiences of local government.

And it will carry out research: currently no organisation is responsible for finding out how many women councillors there are after each election, so will be counting councillors to find out where and which party is best for women’s representation. This will include gathering evidence about the diversity of women who are local councillors or who make it into the most senior positions.

The Commission will also conduct a small number of interviews with female council leaders to find out what it’s like to be a woman at the top.

You too can get involved.

The Commission needs you to help gather evidence, stories, experiences, photos and views.

Even if you only have a minute, an hour or a day to spare, there are lots of useful ways to get involved.

Got one minute to spare?

Share our social media posts with your followers making sure you include the hashtag #LocalandEqual

Follow your female councillors on social media.

Tweet your councillors to promote the campaign.

Got more than one minute?

Email or tweet your councillors with a link to this survey.

Tell the Commission your views by completing its consultation forms, or get in touch with your local Fawcett group to share your experiences. A list of the Fawcett groups and their contact details can be found here.

Do you have experience of working in local government? The Commission really wants to hear your views and experiences on the subject of whether local government work for women – please complete this survey.

Why not go to a public council meeting? Get clued up on who’s making the decisions that affect local services and developments in your area.

And sign up to hear more about this campaign and to find out when there is a call to evidence.

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