Downham Market Town Council votes in new policy to crack down on absentee councillors
A new policy has been implemented in a bid to crack down on town councillors missing meetings.
At the full meeting of Downham Town Council last Tuesday, the authority agreed to follow a new set of rules where if a committee member does not show up to two sub-committee meetings in a row and does not offer any apologies for their absence, they will be removed from that committee.
A vacancy would then automatically arise, with a new councillor appointed to the role. The motion was carried.
Cllr Anna Incorvaia had raised the issue after a member of the public contacted the council voicing concerns about absences at committee meetings.
Cllr Incorvaia said that on a number of occasions, only the minimum number of members required to hold such meetings have attended.
She added that one councillor has missed three meetings in a row without offering any apologies for their absence.
- Councillors also approved a motion to start declaring gifts that they receive which are worth £25 or more.
“This is for the public to see what the council does and that it takes it seriously,” Cllr Incorvaia said.