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The number of women in top council jobs is dropping at a ‘worrying' rate, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has warned. The commission's annual report, Sex and Power, revealed there are just 64 women council leaders out of 448 positions and the number of women chief executives has dropped in the last year from 20.6% to 19.5%. The commission's annual index of women in positions of authority is in its fifth year and the trend emerging is one of reversal or stalled progress, with only a few significant increases. The number of women council leaders rose by .5% in the past year which follows a drop from 16.6% in 2004 to 14.3% in 2007/8. Women's average representation in top jobs over the last five years is 26.6%. And, the report shows, there are fewer women MPs in Westminster, where they make up just 19.3% of all MPs. Women's representation among FTSE 100 directors has improved slightly from 10.4 to 11%. The commission has likened women's progress to ‘a snail's pace'. Nicola Brewer, chief executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: ‘The report argues today's findings are ot just a "women's issue", but are a powerful symptom of a wider failure. We need radical change.' On a brighter note, Margaret Eaton is poised to become the leader of the Local Government Association. For a copy of the report, call the commission on 0203 1170255. *In June, Newtownabbey BC won the Women in local councils – making a difference award. A total of 44% of political leaders and 33% of directors at the council are women, as well as 70% of third tier positions.

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WHITEHALL

'Worrying' drop in women holding top council jobs

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