The Government has called on councils to act on getting more women into top jobs in local government (see page 3).

Given that the secretary of state responsible for local government is also the equalities minister, it is about time. The plan is to look at part-time working at a senior level, review childcare policies, and cut the culture of long hours – change anything which is potentially creating a glass ceiling. 
So, why has local government, with its huge army of women workers, struggled to meet its gender targets? Across the sector, 75% of the workforce is female. In the top jobs, the figure skirts between 20-25% – if you'll pardon the pun.
You only have to wander into a SOLACE
conference to see how male dominated local government is. The society may have made its own efforts to diversify but old boys' networks are hard to break down.
Ironically, councils were originally ahead of the game in equality. But those who pioneered the politically correct and equal opportunities were branded ‘loony left', and the rest of the sector has battled with that image since. In the meantime, the private sector has recognised the need to take action. 
There are some successes. We have had job-sharing chief executives – Eleanor Kelly and Christine Gilbert at Tower Hamlets – and some of our top chief executives are women – Lin Homer, Annie Shepperd, Stella Manzie, Caroline Tapster and Irene Lucas. But often they have more success in applying for jobs in failing councils – and let's not even mention the problems of job evaluation.
Ruth Kelly has started to tackle what may be one of the most important barriers to women. The Commission on Local Councillors, may seem to be about attracting more women, ethnically diverse and younger people to become councillors. But, by changing the average councillor from an average 58-year-old white man, to someone more diverse, there will also be a more diverse range of people on chief executive appointment committees.
Let's hope we reap the benefits with a more diverse range of chief executives, sooner rather than later.
Heather Jameson
Deputy Editor, The MJ