A GREEN Party councillor has been appointed to a nationwide task force charged with increasing the number of black, Asian and minority ethnic women on local councils. Highgate councillor Maya de Souza will play a role in the special group set up by Equali

A GREEN Party councillor has been appointed to a nationwide task force charged with increasing the number of black, Asian and minority ethnic women on local councils.

Highgate councillor Maya de Souza will play a role in the special group set up by Equalities Minister Harriet Hartman earlier this year.

"Local councils make many decisions that have a huge impact on all of us - from housing policy, the environment and education to nurseries, after-school clubs and youth services," she said.

"Women can't afford to leave all these decisions to men. It is vital if all interests are to be properly taken into account and good decisions made that women play a full part in local politics."

Black, Asian and minority ethnic women make up 5.4 per cent of the UK population but their share of local councillors amounts to less than one per cent.