Pendle councillors row over meeting attendance

2:40pm Tuesday 25th November 2008

Comments (6)   Have your say »

A ROW has erupted between opposition councillors over their attendance records at meetings.

Earlier this month Coun Mohammed Iqbal, Labour leader at Pendle Council, called for Brierfield ward Coun Naseem Shabnam to resign after figures revealed she has missed seven meetings from nine since May.

Now Coun Tony Greaves, has accused him of ‘hypocrisy’ after he only attended two meetings of the Executive in the last two years.

But Coun Iqbal said he is not a member of the Executive, so is under no obligation to attend the meetings and has slammed Coun Greaves for only attending 50 per cent of the last six meetings himself.

Coun Shabnam put her poor attendance down to ill health over the last six months and vowed to be present at more meetings in the future.

She is being defended by her fellow Liberal Democrat representative Coun Greaves, who vowed to giver her ‘as much support as possible.’

Pendle Council’s Executive committee makes key decisions on issues, including regeneration in the borough.

Coun Greaves said he thought Coun Iqbal was ‘stupid’ not to attend.

He added: “In the last two years he has been once about taxis to put his views across and then left straight after - for him to accuse other people is hypocrisy.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the Labour party to put their views across.

"If he did that, he would be listened to and his views would be taken on board.

“I think it’s a disgrace - he’s letting down the Labour party and all the people who voted for them. He never comes, so he has no effect and no influence at all.”

Coun Iqbal accused Coun Greaves of ‘deflecting the issue.’

He said “Neither myself or Tony Beckett, are members of the Executive. Why should we attend when we don’t have equal rights?

“A lot of the key decisions are made by the Executive, but if attend, all I am is a member of the public, so I can’t move anything and don’t have voting rights.

"My time is better spent elsewhere in my ward.”

• Sick Brierfield councillor 'should resign’, says Labour