‘KEY’ legislation which is set to pave the way for more young adults to become councillors has been passed - after it was revealed that the average age of those elected is currently 60 years old.

Councillors discussed parental leave for elected members last Thursday after an amendment was proposed that would see officials receive their full allowance and special responsibility allowance (SRA) when taking maternity, paternity or adoption leave.

This is estimated to cost between £8,584 and £14,912 for each person who takes up the offer and is based of the Labour Local Government Association model, which has been presented to councils across the country and is ‘seen nationally as a standard for good practice’.

Councillors argued that the move would help ease the burden of those who either become mothers or fathers while in the four-year term, while bosses also said it would also encourage more people to contest ward seats.

Coun Alex Burnett, who represents the Penistone East ward, praised Coun Sharon Howard for putting the proposal forward.

“Public service as an elected politician is an absolute privilege, as is being a parent,” he said.

“The first year of life is in particularly a time where bonds, behaviour and happiness are formed and ensuring parents can have dedicated time with their young children during this time is imperative.

“A previous independent report into our allowances highlighted how intensive the role of an elected member can be.

“I took two weeks of parental leave from my NHS job for all three of our children, but I was unable to take any leave from my role as a councillor when our youngest was born.

“This meant balancing case work, emails and meetings around sleepless nights, dirty nappies and seemingly endless episodes of colic.

“Whilst I did all I could, I couldn’t imagine managing to balance those roles if I was in my wife’s shoes, feeding all night and generally being a hero throughout all of it.

“I believe the lack of dedicated parental leave for councillors is a barrier to considering becoming a local councillor for many and I hope this policy will go some way to breaking down these barriers.”

Members giving birth are permitted to 26 weeks’ maternity or adoption leave from the due date with the option to extend up to 52 weeks by agreement if required.

Councillors who adopt a child and meet the criteria specified in the regulations shall also be entitled to take up to 26 weeks’ adoption leave from the date of placement, with the option to extend up to a year.

The change will now permit councillors to take up to two weeks’ leave if they are the biological father or nominated carer following a child’s birth.

The average age of a councillor, the meeting was told, is now 60 years old with only 16 per cent under the age of 45.

Just 41 per cent of elected councillors are female, prompting the legislation to be drawn up, in the hope of encouraging more people to run for election.

Council leader Sir Steve Houghton said it was ‘important’ that measures are put in place to deal with the matter.

“We clearly need to put this in place in order to better support our current and future councillors,” he added.