This International Women’s Day (8 March), Harlow Council is celebrating its inspirational women in senior councillor positions who talk about their experiences as councillors in Harlow and what needs to change.
The campaign theme for International Women's Day 2024 is Inspire Inclusion. When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world.
Harlow Council’s sustainability and environment portfolio holder, Councillor Nicky Purse, is currently the only women in the council’s cabinet. She has responsibility for overseeing a range of environmental and housing maintenance services which have traditionally been male dominated environments. Things are changing, but Councillor Purse says more needs to be done to support women into frontline politics.
Councillor Purse, said:
“It is a great honour to both serve Harlow and the council’s cabinet and I love my role and the difference my decisions can make to the town. We are seeing more women in senior leadership positions within the council with 8 Assistant Directors posts currently being occupied by women and we currently have the first ever female Chief Executive of the council, so things are moving in the right direction, but we can do more when it comes to councillors.
“Out of 33 councillors in Harlow, just over a quarter (27%) are females. I am one of 9 female councillors and together across the political divide we need to do more to encourage women to stand as councillors, which in turn would help ensure more women have key decision-making positions. Not only do we need to see more woman involved in frontline politics but also on the backbenches, representing their communities.
“As part of my role I regularly go out and about with our maintenance company, HTS, and many may think this is a woman working in a man’s world and this would have been the case in days gone by. But I am pleased to say that this is changing and that long gone are the days when construction and maintenance jobs are just for men, I get to meet and work closely with many inspiring women in HTS including those in management positions.
“This International Women’s Day I want to pay tribute and celebrate all the work that women on both sides of Council Chamber do and all those women who work in Harlow Council and HTS and help us deliver services for our residents. You are all amazing and we can all be proud of what we do to make Harlow a better place.
Councillor Sue Livings is the Vice-Chair of Harlow Council a position she has held four times, and she has been the Chair of Harlow Council twice. She has been a councillor for over 20 years. She is also the Vice-Chair of the Development Management Committee which makes important planning decisions affecting the town. She is also the member champion for arts, culture and heritage.
Sue would also like to see more women joining her in the Council Chamber.
Councillor Sue Livings, said:
“I feel very honoured and privileged to be the vice-chair of the council. I get to meet so many different people and talk about how great our town is. I have also been the chair of the council twice which has been a position held by many different women councillors over the years.
“During my many years as a councillor I feel I have achieved so much good for the town, and this has involved sitting on many different bodies that work hard for Harlow. This includes being on Harlow Art Trust, St. John's ARC in Old Harlow and Fawbert & Barnard School. Being a councillor is a serious but enjoyable and rewarding job.
"I am also the member champion for the arts, something I am very passionate about in our town. I’ve helped get the town officially named Harlow Sculpture Town, which has put Harlow on the world map. I’ve also helped to create the heritage signboards that tell a little piece of history in each corner of the town.
“I agree that we need more women on the council. However, I am hopeful that in the future we will see many more women get involved so the council is more equally represented. This will help to ensure that we have a wider spectrum of input into local decision making. I hope that my fellow female councillors and I can inspire others to not only become councillors but to aim high for those positions in cabinet and other senior councillor roles.
“It is promising that we are seeing more women in staff leadership positions within the council, and I get the pleasure to work with many of them in my role on the council. I wish to pay tribute to them and all of Harlow’s women councillors and women from all political parties who will be standing as candidates in this May’s elections.”