Calls for "much-needed" women's council role in Coventry
There are calls for a new council role to make sure female voices are heard.
Vital women’s services in Coventry are calling for a new council role to make sure female voices are heard.
Coventry Women’s Partnership started a campaign today (8 March) to get Coventry Council to create a cabinet member for women.
The alliance of groups led by Foleshill Women’s Training (FWT) say they are seeing a rise in need for services amid the cost of living crisis.
They say the role would take a “gender informed perspective” on policies which is “much-needed” at the council.
FWT Chief Executive Officer Christine McNaught said the post would be “significant” for Coventry women and put them at the heart of local politics.
She said: “The appointment of a Cabinet Member for Women in Coventry would be a significant development for women in the city.
“The Cabinet Member would work with local organisations and women to ensure women’s voices are heard and reflected in impactful policy changes, with the needs of women at the core of local politics and decision making.”
Other services in the partnership include Coventry Haven Women’s Aid, Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (CRASAC), Central England Law Centre Coventry and Kairos WWT.
Their campaign kicked off on International Women’s Day with an e-petition on the council website.
It states: “We the undersigned petition the Council to Secure a Cabinet Member for Women within Coventry City Council with the commitment to improve outcomes and the lived experiences for women across the city.”
The petition adds: “A Cabinet Member for Women will be a spokesperson for women across communities in Coventry and be supportive of specialised women’s services.
“They will lead on developing Council policy with a meaningful gender informed approach, will make recommendations and provide guidance to the wider Cabinet, all with the commitment to improving outcomes and the lived experiences for women across the city.”
Coventry council’s Cabinet is made up of ten senior councillors who take responsibility for different service areas at the council, such as children’s services and public health.
Equalities are part of Deputy Leader Cllr Abdul Khan’s brief along with policing.
Members of this group make recommendations to full council and hold public meetings on key decisions.
At the time of writing, four out of the ten Cabinet members are women and all are from the ruling Labour group.