Absentee town councillors may be barred

BARNSTAPLE Town Council is to consider new rules to encourage councillors attendance at meetings. The council s Finance and General Purposes Committee is to recommend that if a member fails to attend three consecutive committee meetings they shall cease

BARNSTAPLE Town Council is to consider new rules to encourage councillors' attendance at meetings. The council's Finance and General Purposes Committee is to recommend that if a member fails to attend three consecutive committee meetings they shall cease to be a member of that committee for the rest of the municipal year.

The proposal will be considered by the full council on Monday.

If agreed, the ruling would excuse councillors who had a statutory reason for absence, such as illness, or if their reason for being unable to attend was approved by the council.

Councillor Simon Harvey, concerned for some time on this issue said: "I think it's a positive step and I'm pleased the committee has decided to take action.