AN “UNPLEASANT” debate erupted during discussions over parental leave for councillors.

At Salisbury City Council’s meeting on Monday, Cllr Victoria Charleston (Lib Dem) said the policy would “support more people coming forward to represent where they live and contribute to running the city”. She said young parents were an “important demographic” for the council.

The policy, setting out councillors entitlement to maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave and relevant allowances, faced some backlash from councillors.

Objecting, Conservative Cllr Jo Broom said being a councillor was not a paid, contractual role and shouldn’t be subject to the same terms and conditions as paid employment.

Councillors are unpaid volunteers but receive an allowance for the year, the meeting heard.

The claiming of allowance during periods of abscence was a concern raised by Cllr Broom.

She added: “You choose to stand to be a councillor, you ask to be elected for a fixed term, in our case four years, and it is something, whatever your circumstances you give your due consideration that you can undertake that commitment. And if you can’t you need to think about that very carefully.

"I don't think it's appropriate to then expect to be able to take an extended amount of leave. We all know that normal maternity leave can in fact be up to a year. And also expect to get your allowance for it. It is a choice - you choose to stand for election - it isn't that you're in a paid job where you are trying to provide for your family."

These comments were met by “disappointment and shock” by Cllr Charleston.

"This is about making sure our council represents our city," she continued. "My understanding of your comments this evening and previously sent to me your suggesting anyone under the age 35/40 ought not to stand for council because they might possibly choose to start a family. I think that is rather disgraceful."

Cllr Sven Hocking asked where the "nastiness" had come from and if councillors were allowed to express an opinion.

He explained that previously the council had dealt with situations where councillors were absent due to illness without a policy and the council "could work around it ourselves". 

Cllr Caroline Corbin (Lab) added: “It is right we encourage people from all walks of life to take this up. I take your point that you wouldn’t want them to take an extended period and then still claim the allowance.” 

Addressing the Conservatives and comments made by Cllr Broom, Cllr Brian Dalton said if a member is ill they can be off for as long as they like at the will of the council.

Relating to a matter involving Wiltshire county councillors he said: "We voted for two Conservative councillors not to attend council until October for health reasons. Are they [Conservatives] against that?"

He told the meeting that Cllr Broom previously had not attended meetings for six months and whether she took her allowance, which he felt was "slightly two-faced".

She explained her personal reasons for this absence.

Lib Dem Cllr Paul Sample was in support of the policy and said it would send a message to the rest of society that their contribution would be welcomed but described the night's debate as “unpleasant, unnecessary and disrespectful” and appealed to the Conservatives to "unite" with the leadership group.

He also added: "And to the two people who are still thinking about whether to vote for this or not consider whether you want to continue to support this bigoted, unthinking, unhelpful [comments].  Theresa May once said that the Conservative Party was the nasty party. That wasn't really true. But in order to move forward as a group and as a party you have got to leave this kind of petty stuff behind. You agreed as a group last time that you wanted the leadership to go away and come back with a policy. Here it is. Vote for it."

Councillors voted to approve the policy. A recorded vote was taken with 17 councillors voting in favour while three voted against and two abstained.

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