Councillor quits after failing to attend meetings
A PORTCHESTER councillor has resigned from Fareham Borough Council after failing to attend any council meetings in the last six months.
Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Brown, pictured, who represents Portchester East, has not attended a meeting since August 5. In that time he has received £3,230 which councillors are paid through their members’ allowances.
Yesterday the council confirmed that Cllr Brown, who had been a ward councillor since May 2010, had handed in a letter of resignation. A by-election will now take place.
Conservative councillor Sean Woodward, leader of Fareham Borough Council, said: ‘He has failed to attend a council meeting for six months. The people of Portchester East have a right to be represented.
‘They are bound to be angry on the one hand that he’s taken the money and done nothing, and perhaps relieved that they have got the opportunity to elect somebody who hopefully will represent them.’
Councillor Jim Forrest, Lib Dem leader in Fareham, said: ‘Chris’s Liberal Democrat colleagues are disappointed that he feels unable to continue serving on the council to channel his obvious concern for the residents of Portchester East.
‘We appreciate that the demands of running his own business have made it difficult for him to attend meetings, and respect his decision to say so honestly rather than to continue in a post whose public duties he was uncomfortable with.
‘We are grateful for the considerable work Chris has done behind the scenes for residents in Portchester. We pledge that Liberal Democrats will continue to serve those residents in the council chamber and in the ward.’
But ward residents in Portchester East are angry.
One resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: ‘You expect more from a councillor. He shouldn’t have claimed that money. He should have to give it back if he didn’t do the job.’
Another added: ‘Other councillors we have had have always made themselves known to us. But since Mr Brown took over, I know nothing of him. It’s disgusting.’
The News attempted to contact Mr Brown but he was unavailable to comment.
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Comments
There are 16 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
elliotc
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 05:20 PM@15 You seem to be taking a very personal view of Mr Brown's resignation - it's almost defamatory, so take care.
Come off it
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 03:43 PMSUDDENLY realised, after 6 months that you were not doing your duties a few hours before being disqualified and the allowances dtyingf up? Pull the other one!
elliotc
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:37 PMWhat's better - a councillor who works with and within his community and keeps in touch with his fellow councillors but after managing to do so previously, suddenly finds he cannot manage to get to meetings as much as he'd like, or a councillor who simply turns up to meetings to vote with his or her party? Looking down the list of comments here, someone has pointed out that at least one other councillor is in the same boat yet has escaped the same attention, so it's not unknown for councillors to temporarily fall foul of their obligations. Cllr Brown at least realised that his position was becoming difficult and did the right thing by telling people that he couldn't continue. I don't think he deserves the pillorying he's being subjected to.
Come off it
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:34 AMCouncillors are elected to get things done and influence council decisions. How can they do that if they let their electors down by not attending to exert that influence?
elliotc
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 10:48 AM@11 Having read the explanation elsewhere, I can well imagine that the council would prefer to have someone that's dedicated to stay all the time things are getting done, even if meetings are missed.
Come off it
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 04:06 PMYou really expect us to believe that Brown (liberal) was forced by the council leader (conservative) to not resign, not attend meetings and to keep claiming the cash? Pull the other one!
kyemac
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 03:28 PMThis article is complete rubbish! And you're all fools to be jumping on the band wagon. This is all about a vendetta Sean Woodward has against Mr Brown- you wont find a more decent guy. He tried to quit time after time due to personal reasons but they wouldn't accept his resignation. Chris Brown should hold his head up high as the good he did whilst councillor will give any other councillor a run for their money! Look out for the correction in The News on this rediculous story shortly!
Fareham99
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 12:34 PMWhy not ask Cllr Nick Walker to come back to Portchester East and represent the ward he lives in ? After the total mess up of the foreshore at Cams Hall in Portchester West by the developer (illegal removal of foreshore hedge under Tree Protection Order) and Cllr Walker as Chairman of the Council Planning Committee that publicly demanded re-instatement and now thinks the tiny twigs so far planted are adequate. If you have any problems with TPOs in Portchester East then you know who to vote for. What a joke !
Younggrandad
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:02 AMThere is an obvious answer to this - only pay their allowances based solely on their attendance If I don't go to work, I do not get paid!!
Gosport View
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 09:23 AMJust a minor blip for Porchester and Fareham Borough Council compared to the 35 Liberal Democrat Councillors who have defected, resigned or quit their own Lib Dem group in Gosport in the last 11 years (including 4 last year). Now there's something for the Guiness Book of Records and deserving 3 points on the licence!
Sailor Sam
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 12:15 PMAn excellent example of 'Money for nothing!'
sidious
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 12:14 PMHas no-one noticed that he managed two meetings more than Ruth Godrich this year? Surely she's claiming her expenses as well?
udontknow
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 11:47 AMDid he quit or was he sacked and ssked to quit?
Chris Q in Oz
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 11:32 AMDisgusting and despicable leech. Pay back any monies earned for the whole period and sit in the stocks for a week. Mouse!!!!!!!!!!!
csiatst
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 10:59 AM"The News attempted to contact Mr Brown but he was unavailable to comment." ... or for The News to get a decent photograph of him to use!!!
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