A COUNCILLOR has lost her seat on Great Aycliffe Town Council for failing to attend any meetings in six months.

Former Labour councillor Alison Palmer claimed her allowance of £1,059.60 for 2014/2015 despite only attending two of a possible 26 meetings.

The previous year, Mrs Palmer, who represented the town’s Byerley Park, Horndale and Cobblers Hall ward, attended four of a possible 21 meetings, but again claimed her full allowance.

By failing to attend a council meeting or act as an official representative on an outside body in six months, Mrs Palmer automatically lost her seat this month.

She did not respond to requests for a comment in relation to the decision but when contacted previously about attendance she said: “My priorities have been with my family. We’ve had some problems, including bereavements, and I had health difficulties myself so that came first.”

Her departure comes at a time of widespread scrutiny of councillor attendance.

Some councillors have seen attendance fall due to ill health, but there are calls for others, including Labour’s Tom Twissell, to step down to prevent tax payers forking out a further £6,000 for a separate by-election.

The west ward councillor attended only five of a possible 32 meetings, but claimed his allowance of £1,059.60.

His contact number on the council’s website does not work and he has not responded to emails from The Northern Echo.

Last year, Labour’s Dan Summers spent six months abroad, but sought advice from the town council and only claimed half of his allowance.

He resigned from the council when offered the chance to return to France last month, stating: “I honestly believe it’s the right thing to do.”

Independent councillors George Gray, Sandra Haigh and Irene Hewitson have criticised those councillors who regularly fail to attend.

Cllr Gray, who attended all 47 meetings required, said: “Alison Palmer received £500 per meeting. If you want to be a councillor you have got to go to meetings to find out what is going on, speak up for the people you represent and report back what you find.”

Cllr Haigh, who attended 33 meetings of a possible 43, added: “Why did they stand if they are not prepared to fulfil the promises they made to the people who elected them?”

The vacancy arising following Mrs Palmer’s departure will be discussed at a council meeting at the council offices in School Aycliffe Lane on Monday, June 22 at 7.15pm.