what are the attendance criteria for councillors; when by law do they cease to be a councillor?

Question

What please are the precise criteria for attendance/non attendance of councillors, how and when should they send apologies.  what is considered a 'real' reason.  what is the timescale for the legal ceasing to be a councillor?

thanks

s hare

clerk to rodmarton pc

Answer 1

Members have a legal obligation to attend properly convened meetings; hence the Notice of a meeting is actually a summons to attend. What constitutes a legitimate reason for absence is something which must be judged case by case.  As The Good Councillor Guide puts it: 'a darts match is not a good enough reason but work commitments might be.' Apologies should be conveyed to the meeting through the Clerk or another member. Any member absent for all meetings during a six month period ceases to be a member unless the council passes a resolution accepting the member' reasons for absence. Because of this, if there may be a problem in this area, it is a good idea to record (in the minutes or elsewhere) what the actual reason for non attendance is when apologies are offered.