Model motion to adopt parental leave – Labour Group (Wales)

This Labour Group notes:

• That data from ERS Cymru found that following the 2018 local elections in Wales, only 28 per cent of councillors are women;
• As of February 2022, two of the ten Labour controlled councils in Wales are led by women, and two of the nine Labour Groups in Opposition are led by women;
• As of February 2022, almost 40 Labour Groups in England and Wales have passed the Labour Group parental leave policy;
• That the equalities section of the Labour Party Democracy Review mandates all Labour councils and Labour Groups to introduce a parental leave policy for to cover their group and their council as applicable;
• That the role of a councillor should be open to all, regardless of their background, and that introducing a parental leave policy is a step towards encouraging a wider range of people to become councillors, and is also a step to encourage existing councillors who may want to start a family to remain as councillors;
• That parental leave must apply to parents regardless of their gender, and that it should also cover adoption leave to support those parents who choose to adopt;
• That this motion is in line with the Wellbeing and Future Generations Act, and is another step in creating a more Equal Wales.

This Labour Group resolves:

• To adopt the parental leave policy drafted by the LGA Labour Group’s Women’s Taskforce to give Labour councillors an entitlement to parental leave after giving birth or adopting;
• To ensure that councillors with children and other caring commitments are supported as appropriate;
• To take a motion to full council to adopt the policy so that parental leave is available to all councillors, regardless of the political party they are a member of;
• To notify the LGA Labour Group that we have passed the parental leave policy as a Labour Group and that a motion will be taken to full council to pass a parental leave policy as a council.