Rye Chamber of Commerce marked International Women’s Day on Saturday, March 8 with a special breakfast to celebrate the town’s businesswomen.
The meeting at Fletcher’s House also heard a call for local women to take action ahead of planned changes to local government and to stand for Rye Town Council.
Vice-chair Sarah Broadbent said women were under-represented among local councillors. “54% of our famously independent high street is run by women but that isn’t reflected in local government. Rye’s next elections won’t happen until 2027 but in a small town where traditions are hard to shift we want to encourage our businesswomen to start raising their profiles now in readiness for standing for Rye Town Council. With devolution looming, the town council may well end up with additional powers and it’s imperative that the line up of councillors becomes more diverse and representative.”
She told the meeting that Rye Town Council had not had a full election since 2019 because seats on the council have been uncontested. “As a consequence it is unrepresentative of our town’s demographic. Many women, including those running their own businesses, hold back from council roles. Some feel unenthused because ‘things never change’ and others cite that the male dominated environment is somewhat intimidating. We also can’t ignore the fact that for many the domestic burden still largely falls to them too, so ‘spare’ time is limited.”
Hastings and Rye MP Helena Dollimore also attended the meeting to show her support and encouragement. She talked about the need for more women at every level of government and the barriers many women still face and the inequity that makes working environments more challenging. To illustrate her point she gave one very telling example – the shortage of women’s toilets in the House of Commons.
Image Credits: Sarah Broadbent .
As a proud single mother of 2 adult daughters, I need to point out that intimidation only happens if we allow it to; yes, we need to be strong and take on roles that are often carried out by males, but it can be done.
Couldn’t agree more with Sarah’s call to arms. Off the top of my head I can think of a dozen incredible women running brilliant businesses and really making things happen in Rye. We need their dynamism and determination on the Town Council.
As the Mayor of Rye I would like to congratulate Jane and Sarah for how they have reinvigorated the Rye and District Chamber of Commerce and how they work tirelessly for the Town. I would also like to add that I believe all the Town Councillors would have preferred a contested election in 2023 (and we welcome the three women who plan to stand in 2027).
In terms of possible under-representation of women in Rye, there are 16 Town Councillors, seven of whom are women and nine are men. Equality of number might be preferable but that’s pretty close. We have two Rother District Councillors – one woman and one man (who in 2023 replaced a one male and one female duo who had represented Rye for the previous eight years). OK, our single County Councillor is a man, but our MP is the dynamic Helena Dollimore and the last three MPs for Rye have all been women (as have four of the last five MPs).
However, I hope that many more women (and men) throw their hat into the ring when the next Town Council elections take place. In the meantime, everyone is welcome to attend Town Council meetings (and take part in the public questions section at the start of each meeting).
And to the Chamber and its members I say a huge thank you so much for all you have done and will do for the Town!
I’d be interested to know if, under the local govt. reorganisation, which will inevitably make democracy more remote, whether the Town Council’s boundary will be expanded? If the Town Council were to accrue expanded powers under the new proposals, an adjustment might make eligible more people whose lives and interests focus on Rye.