The LGA has adopted its first model parental leave policy for councillors, providing a practical starting point for councils wanting to address this grey area for elected members.
As councillors are not employees, they have no automatic right to maternity, paternity or adoption leave unless their council proactively puts in place formal or informal arrangements.
Uncertainty over entitlements for councillors can act as a barrier to seeking election or re-election, particularly among groups who are underrepresented in local government, including women, younger people, and those with caring responsibilities.
The new cross-party policy builds on one promoted by the LGA Labour Group and which has been adopted by a significant number of councils across England. It provides guidance for maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption, and baby loss leave, in line with standard employment rights.
It also addresses specific issues that arise for councillors, such as payment of special responsibility allowances, cover for special responsibilities during leave, and being able to return to the same roles in cabinet or committees at the end of a period of leave.
As well as adopting the new model policy, the LGA will lobby the Government to make some minor amendments and clarifications to the law, to help councils that are implementing parental leave policies on issues including whether cabinet members on parental leave count towards legal maximum sizes of executives.
- See the LGA’s Equalities Hub on our website.