Mayor shows support for 'name and shame' register

9:39am Monday 15th October 2007

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THE publication of a list that names and shames' Pembroke Dock town councillors with poor attendance records has been supported by the mayor.

Cllr Paul Weatherall said: "I think it is important to make this information public as people have a right to know who is attending meetings.

"It was our town clerk's idea and I fully support it."

Cllr Weatherall declined to comment on individual cases, but said members cannot help being ill, but in the case of long term sickness the council is obliged to ask for medical evidence.

Of the 16 town council meetings and two special meetings held between September 7, 2006, and August 30, 2007, Cllr William Rees only attended four meetings.

Cllr Ted Hissey attended seven, but the mayor said he was suffering from illness and had kept in contact with the council to highlight issues important to the people of Pennar.

The councillor with the highest attendance was Cllr Veronica Roach, who had attended all 18 meetings.

Cllr Ron Watts attended 17 and Cllr Pam George 16.

Cllr Weatherall himself attended 15 meetings, missing two through mayoral engagements.

He added: "I believe if you become a town councillor you should attend as many meetings as you are able to and I think the majority of our councillors do that."

Cllrs Phillip Gwyther and Sue Perkins attended 15, Cllr Don Esmond 14, Cllr David Jones 12, Cllr Kevin Higgs 11 and Cllrs Patricia Folland and Caroline Fortune went to ten meetings.

The mayor said some councillors appointed to represent the town council on outside bodies are also missing those meetings, with some members not attending any.

In the minutes from the last town council meeting town clerk Ian Jones expressed concern.

His statement read: "I think it would be better that members decline appointment if they are unable to attend rather than accept appointment and then find it difficult in attending subsequent meetings."

The nominations for members to sit on outside bodies will be reviewed at a town council meeting tonight (Thursday).

Do you think publishing an attendance record for town council meetings is a good idea?