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Post by LDCaerdydd on Feb 22, 2018 9:47:44 GMT
Can anyone help me, I'm scratching my head over this.
A few years ago there was a case of a councillor being disqualified after failing to turn up to any meetings for six months.
they stated that they assumed that non council meetings/events such as governors meetings and surgeries etc counted towards their total.
Does anyone remember where and when this happened?
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Post by Davıd Boothroyd on Feb 22, 2018 9:53:49 GMT
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The Bishop
Labour
Down With Factionalism!
Posts: 38,916
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Post by The Bishop on Feb 22, 2018 10:08:08 GMT
I think he then stood again in the subsequent byelection, and won.
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Post by LDCaerdydd on Feb 22, 2018 10:23:11 GMT
No, it was more recent than that. Martin Swainston did seem to have a genuine reason for his absence but maybe messed up the paperwork. The example I'm thinking of was more to do with incompetence.
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Crimson King
Lib Dem
Be nice to each other and sing in tune
Posts: 9,843
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Post by Crimson King on Feb 22, 2018 10:52:43 GMT
I know the one you mean didnt he claim that as he had medical problems or a disability he had been told he didnt need to attend meetings as they were inaccessible or something (not much help I know but it might remind someone else)
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Post by East Anglian Lefty on Feb 22, 2018 13:15:35 GMT
I know the one you mean didnt he claim that as he had medical problems or a disability he had been told he didnt need to attend meetings as they were inaccessible or something (not much help I know but it might remind someone else) I think there was something like that in Wisbech? Not sure if it was at parish or district level.
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Post by gwynthegriff on Feb 22, 2018 13:19:53 GMT
There was a fairly recent case in (I think) Fylde.
But nothing to do with governors meetings / surgeries, I seem to recall it was a health issue and he wanted to "attend" meetings by Skype (or similar) which the Council wouldn't allow. He fought, and won IIRC, the byelection.
At which point, I assume, it all started again ...
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J.G.Harston
Lib Dem
Leave-voting Brexit-supporting Liberal Democrat
Posts: 14,771
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Post by J.G.Harston on Feb 22, 2018 13:49:40 GMT
The rules do say that it has to be a council meeting, not a meeting where councillors are present. I think case law has said that if it doesn't appear in the Committee Secretariat agenda, doesn't have officers present, and doesn't have attendance and minutes reported to Full Council, then it isn't a council meeting. Certainly governors meetings and surgeries are not council meetings.
And Full Council is completely free to grant dispensation from the six-month rule. The recommendation is to do it every three months so you don't accidently fall out.
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Feb 22, 2018 14:16:28 GMT
Better than that was the woman in Brazil who attempted to run the town in absentia via Whatsapp.
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Post by johnloony on Feb 22, 2018 16:52:33 GMT
Can anyone help me, I'm scratching my head over this. A few years ago there was a case of a councillor being disqualified after failing to turn up to any meetings for six months. they stated that they assumed that non council meetings/events such as governors meetings and surgeries etc counted towards their total. Does anyone remember where and when this happened? I think it was a BNP councillor, but I don't remember where or when. My memory of the case is that he thought it was more useful to attend residents' meetings and community events, and "didn't know that he was supposed to" attend council meetings. I got the impression that he just didn't know about the six month rule at all, until it was pointed out to him (by which time it was too late).
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Post by gwynthegriff on Feb 22, 2018 17:43:58 GMT
Better than that was the woman in Brazil who attempted to run the town in absentia via Whatsapp. When the Chairman of Wybunbury Parish Council was unwell his mother attended in his place. She chaired the meeting and exercised his voting rights. I was not the Clerk.
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