Cllrs complain over duo's non-attendance

Published on 29th March 2007 in News

A special meeting is to be held between Snaith town councillors and the two East Riding of Yorkshire ward councillors for Snaith in a bid to resolve issues that have been 'gnawing away' at the Town Council.

Snaith town councillors have been concerned over the levels of attendance from East Riding ward councillors Terry Allison and Christine Arnold at town council meetings for some time and on Monday, proposed that a special meeting is held to discuss issues.

Cllr Richard Bridge claimed that of the 18 meetings since the last Annual General Meeting last year, Cllr Allison has attended seven meetings, while Cllr Arnold has attended only one meeting.

He told fellow town councillors: "This discussion should only relate to the councillors' contributions in Snaith and Cowick, and not the rest of the ward.

"This is something that has been gnawing away at the Town Council and if we don't address it, it will continue to gnaw away."

Councillors are concerned, not only about the levels of attendance from Snaith and Cowick's two ward councillors, but about how much pro-active work the councillors carry out to represent Snaith and Cowick and its interests. They feel that when the East Riding councillors are unable to attend a meeting, they should still issue the town council with a report.

Not present for 'non-atendance' debate

Cllr Christine Arnold was not present at Monday's Town Council meeting and although Cllr Terry Allison gave an East Riding councillor's report at the start of the meeting, he was not present for the discussion but would not have been allotted any time to speak under town council rules.

After issuing the East Riding councillor's statement at Monday's meeting, Cllr Allison told members that he would like to "work more closely with the town council," and insisted that he was a pro-active councillor.

Speaking following Cllr Allison's earlier statement, Cllr Bridge said: "Cllr Allison said we should work more closely but what more can we do? They have failed in almost every instance. I feel strongly about working more closely, and think that we should."

Town council members have suggested that they meet with the East Riding ward councillors at 6.30pm on Tuesday, April 10 to discuss issues before the town council meeting commences at 7pm.