A HARLOW Labour councillor has attempted to establish what the ruling Tory council define as “attendance” at meetings.

This comes after Great Parndon councillor Steve Le May failed to attend any meetings for close to six months. Had he gone over six months, he would cease to be a councillor and a by-election triggered.

But in the very last week, he “attended” a planning committee meeting. By attending, he did not sit on the committee but sat in the public gallery for a short while before leaving.

Bush Fair councillor Kay Morrison asked:

“Attendance at committee meetings is imperative if you wish to be an active a member of that committee. For councillors (and others) a certain level of attendance is stipulated: an absentee councillor is unlikely to participate in committee business and decision-making.

“However, it appears that definitions of ‘attendance’ differ. One definition is ‘being present, being prepared (ambitious, possibly) and staying until the end’.

Someone who is ‘in attendance’ is usually a guest who has been invited or someone who takes notes. In other words, someone who’s ‘in attendance’ isn’t a member of the committee. Most definitions of ‘attendance’ assume that the individual is physically present (or, occasionally, via Zoom) and is seated within the committee group where s/he/they take part in proceedings.

“What is Harlow Council’s accepted definition of councillor attendance at committee/panel meetings?”

Harlow Council leader Dan Swords response and cllr Morrison’s follow up questions can be seen below.

For the record, the following councillors did not attend this meeting:

Conservative:

Apologies Received: Mike Hardware, James Leppard, Steve Le May, Nick Churchill

No Apologies: Eddie Johnson, Russell Perrin

Labour:

Apologies Received: Mark Wilkinson, Daniella Pritchard