COUNCILLORS who fail to attend training courses could be named and shamed under new rules.

A report by Darlington Borough Council's standards committee at the end of last year revealed that some councillors had failed to attend the minimum of five training sessions a year.

Letters were sent out to the political group leaders in the council asking why some councillors had not attended training sessions.

They replied that some training sessions had been cancelled and others were held in the evening, which made it difficult for people who work to attend them.

But a meeting of the standards committee next week will reveal that these excuses have not been accepted and all councillors must still attend the minimum five sessions.

Although the committee cannot impose penalties on councillors who fail to attend training sessions, they will be named and shamed in future and the possibility of stricter penalties being imposed are being investigated.