The outgoing council had 25 men, and 19 women (43%).
The new council still has 25 men, but only 14 women (36%).
The minority Tories and Independents are more balanced with three men and four women between them. So the blame for this backward step in women's representation lies firmly with the Lib Dems.
With so many safe seats for the Lib Dems they could have selected a gender balanced slate of candidates. Instead we end up with 22 Lib Dem men and 10 women (31%). This is an embarrassing state of affairs for a party which claims to want to "increase the representation of women in every aspect of life".
Things are slightly better at the Hedge End West End and Botley Local Area Committee with five women out of 12 councillors (42%).
Perhaps there just aren't enough women who want to put themselves forward. In the five HEWEB wards, Labour and Tories could only muster six women candidates between them.
However, the make up of the Lib Dem cabinet is revealing. This is the decision making committee for the borough council. Even before the comprehensive defeat of Cllr Anne Winstanley last Thursday there were only two women cabinet members out of eight (25%). There has to be a change in the make-up of cabinet. Why not a full reshuffle? It remains to be seen if Cllr Keith House and his Eastleigh Lib Dem aristocracy can take this opportunity to achieve true gender balance on this vital committee.
