The future of women in Scottish local government

Not long ago I attended a meeting. There we were, me the solitary woman, and sixteen chaps. We were all attending the agenda meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee. The chaps were the Leader of the Council, the clerk to the Committee, the service directors and Chief Executive. (The agenda meeting, also known as the "call-over" orpre-meetingiswhen the Chair/Convener of the Committee whips through the agenda items, with the responsible staff, just to ensure there are no pitfalls to trap the unwary at the actual meeting.)