Absent Peterborough councillor given special dispensation to remain in role

Cllr Diane Lamb, Conservative member for Wittering, has failed to attend a meeting since October 16 and was expected to step down in May when local elections were scheduled, although these have since been pushed back a year due to the coronavirus.

Under national legislation, any councillor who does not attend a single meeting over a six month period is automatically disqualified.

However, council leader Cllr John Holdich has granted the former cabinet member a reprieve by deciding to waive the rule, while also sanctioning a further six month period of absence until October this year.

Explaining the decision, the Conservative council leader said: “Cllr Lamb has not been very well.

“I contacted her family and asked if she was coming back. She said she would be grateful to extend her term as she hopes to be back in a full capacity.

“I think it’s a reasonable request.”

Cllr Holdich added that he had previously approved a similar request from former Labour councillor Julia Davidson who missed months of meetings for personal reasons.

Cllr Lamb’s absence caused her party a massive headache in March when the Tories’ budget proposals were rejected by one vote, forcing her colleagues to ask two of their group to excuse themselves from family emergencies to return to the meeting.

Councillors currently receive a basic allowance of £10,100.

Cllr Lamb was approached for comment but had not responded at the time of going to press.