A PORTHMADOG councillor is calling on the public to “elect councillors that are less male, pale, and stale”.

Porthmadog East councillor Nia Wyn Jeffreys said elected representatives “need to look like the communities they represent”.

Cllr Jeffreys, who is also Cabinet member for corporate support, was the first woman to represent the ward as a councillor, and is one of only two women that sit on the council’s Cabinet.

With elections for Gwynedd Council due to take place next May, Cllr Jeffreys is leading the push for a more diverse intake of councillors in 2022.

She said: “Despite the female population in Gwynedd being two per cent higher than that of the male population, our elected representatives are predominantly male.

“To be precise, there are 54 per cent more male councillors than there are female councillors.

“The proportion of middle-aged men in the 45-65 age range that were elected increased by 18.18 per cent in the 2017 election.

“The number of female councillors fell by almost five per cent.”

She added: “And it’s not just gender disproportion. There’s a significant lack of representation from young people and people of ethnic minorities. For example, at present there isn’t a single member of the council younger than 30.”

The Gwynedd councillor is leading efforts to widen the demographic diversity on the council.

Cllr Jeffreys said: “Elected representatives need to look like the communities they represent.

“That’s why I’m co-organising a meeting in my area for those considering standing in 2022’s Council Elections.

“The session’s focus will be on electing councillors that come from a variety of backgrounds, with an emphasis on addressing the gender disparity.

“We’ll also be busting a few myths and discussing hurdles that prevent some from standing.

“I invite people living in the Dwyfor and Meirionnydd areas to attend the event, whether they think they fit the mould of a ‘traditional councillor’ or not.

The event takes place online on Tuesday, 12 October, from 6pm-7pm.

Anyone who cannot make it but is keen for more information can contact [email protected]u