A LIBERAL Democrat councillor has attended fewer than half of the necessary meetings since moving from East Lancashire to Yorkshire.

Figures revealed in a Lancashire Telegraph investigation show Coun Philip Boyle has been present at just 10 out of a possible 22 meetings, between him making the 30-mile journey to live in Bradford last summer and the end of February.

The Waterside representative has the third worst attendance record in that period after councillors Naseem Shabnam and Christopher Proctor Tennant, who put their poor attendance down to ill health and the demands of work, respectively.

Labour representatives are now making renewed calls for Coun Boyle to step down from his role.

Coun Boyle could not be contacted by the Lancashire Telegraph for his comments despite repeated attempts, but Liberal Democrat leader John David said he was happy with the job he was doing.

Coun Boyle is listed on Pendle Council’s website as living at Witz End Cottage, Beech Square, Clayton, Bradford. He sits on the borough’s Scrutiny Management Team, Licensing Committee and Colne and District Area Committee.

However, since the beginning of August, he has attended just three out of a possible seven Colne and District Area Committee meetings, one out of three Licensing Committee meetings and one out of four Scrutiny Management Team meetings.

He has been present at three out of six Scrutiny Panel meetings as well as both meetings of the full council.

Bradley councillor and Labour group leader Mohammed Iqbal urged Coun Boyle to resign following his move to Bradford last summer.

He said: “I think this vindicates our call for him to step down. There is no way he can represent the people in his ward. We ask him to do the decent thing and step down.”

But Coun David, leader of the council, defended his colleague. He said: “I am very happy with the way Coun Boyle is looking after the people in Waterside.

“He travels back here from his home regularly and carries out his duties very well.

“It sometimes happens that when a councillor moves away from the ward, their work as a councillor deterior-ates, but in Philip’s case, he does a splendid job.”

Coun Shabnam, LibDem representative in Brierfield, has the worst attendance record, having been present at only one meeting since August.

Earby councillor Christopher Proctor Tennant, a Tory representative, has the second worst record with eight meetings out of 28.