Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Monitoring Officer seeking Members’ consideration as to whether the absence of Councillor S White should be approved should she be absence for six months from Council meetings. The report also sought Members’ consideration of an agreed extension to this absence.

Members noted Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 set out how if a Member had not attended any meeting of the authority for a period of six consecutive months they ceased to be a Member of the authority. The report referred to the attendance of Councillor White and reported that since 28 May 2024 she had been unable to attend a meeting due to ill health. Should Councillor White not attend a Council or Committee meeting by 28 November 2024 she would lose her seat and no longer be a Councillor for the Purleigh Ward. This matter was being brought to the Council as this was the only scheduled Council meeting before the expiry of the six-month rule.

The Lead Specialist: Legal and Monitoring Officer presented the report and explained that a decision was required before the six-month period ended. It was not clear if Councillor White would be able to return in November which is why an extension to 13 February 2024 was requested. Should Councillor White attend any meetings before the six-month period ended this extension would not be required and the six-month timescale would restart.

The Chairperson moved the recommendations set out in the report. These were duly seconded.

In response to a question, the Officer confirmed that she had been in contact with Councillor White who had advised she wanted to return and not stand down as a District Councillor.

The Chairperson put the recommendations, and these were duly agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)             That Councillor S White’s permitted period of absence beyond the six-month period of non-attendance provided for within Section 85 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds of ill health be approved;

(ii)            that a further extend the permitted absence for Councillor S White beyond the six-month period until the 13 February 2025 be agreed.

Councillor D O Bown and W Stamp left the meeting at this point and did not return.