Canning’s female councillors pass reforms to schedule council meetings around school holidays

A Perth council where women make up less than 20 per cent of elected members has changed its meeting timetable in the hope it will improve representation.

It comes after councillor Shen Sekhon asked — and received unanimous support for — a restructured calendar with no council meetings during school holidays.

The change does not reduce the number of meetings but moves two agenda briefings and ordinary council meetings back by one week.

The first-year councillor said she had found attending meetings outside of school terms difficult when balancing family commitments.

“As a mum of three young school-age children and serving on council for nine months now, the school holidays have become particularly challenging,” she said.

“We weren’t able to travel overseas (during holidays) to visit my immediate family with the agenda briefings, council meetings and strategic briefing commitments.”

Cr Sekhon also hoped the move would attract more women to run for council.

“In my dealings with the community, including my work running the CALD women’s group and local organisations, I’ve come across females interested in running for local government but the school holiday commitment certainly poses a barrier,” she said.

“I’m hoping with my notice of motion more women are enticed by the prospect of nominating for council, whether youth, young women or mothers.”

The City of Canning currently has one of the lowest rates of female representation in the southern suburbs after former councillor Sara Saberi resigned last month.

“It’s left the City of Canning with only two female councillors, which is a mere 18 per cent of council makeup,” Cr Sekhon said.

Less than half of elected members at the City of Cockburn, City of Fremantle and the Town of East Fremantle are female.

Canning’s only other female representative, Amanda Spencer-Teo, said she had consistently grappled with council commitments and family obligations.

“Like Cr Sekhon, I speak with many young working mothers and members of the community who show an interest in council. It is sad to say that one of the barriers is that we have to be committed throughout the school holidays,” she said.

“I feel I would not be doing my community service by not attending our council commitments and also having family overseas. I struggle to balance my family with council during the school holidays,” she said.

Mayor Patrick Hall also supported the motion.

“As was rightly pointed out, I do take the point we need to be thinking more laterally and in a more inclusive fashion and make sure we don’t leave anybody behind,” he said.

“It’s important we do everything we can to try and entice people into the local government sector.”