Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011

28Parental absence

This section has no associated Explanatory Notes

(1)This section applies to a member of a local authority who satisfies prescribed conditions as to—

(a)having responsibility for a child, or

(b)expecting to have responsibility for a child.

(2)The member is entitled to a period of absence (“parental absence”) for the purpose of caring for the child.

(3)Regulations must include provision for determining—

(a)the extent of a member’s entitlement to parental absence in respect of a child;

(b)when parental absence may be taken.

(4)Regulations must not provide for parental absence in respect of a child to exceed a period, or a total period, of three months.

(5)Provision under subsection (3)(b) may (amongst other things) refer to—

(a)a child’s age, or

(b)a prescribed period of time starting from a prescribed event.

(6)Regulations may prescribe circumstances in which a member of a local authority, or the local authority, may—

(a)bring a period of parental absence to an end, or

(b)cancel a period of parental absence.

(7)Regulations may—

(a)(for the purpose of subsection (2)) prescribe things which are, or are not, to be taken as done for the purpose of caring for a child;

(b)require parental absence to be taken as a single period of absence in all cases or in prescribed cases;

(c)require parental absence to be taken as a series of periods of absence in all cases or in prescribed cases;

(d)require all or prescribed parts of a period of parental absence to be taken at or by prescribed times;

(e)allow a member to choose, subject to prescribed restrictions, the date on which a period of parental absence starts;

(f)make provision about the postponement by a local authority of a period of parental absence which a member wishes to take;

(g)prescribe a minimum or maximum period of absence which may be taken as part of a period of parental absence;

(h)prescribe a maximum aggregate of periods of parental absence which may be taken during a prescribed period of time.