9:20am Friday 3rd September 2010
I write with reference to the letter from Mr J. Roberts (Western Telegraph, August 11th) regarding the disqualification of Cherie Harvey to serve as a Haverfordwest town councillor. I wish to set the record straight.
The truth of the matter is that the town clerk informed Mrs Harvey in March this year that she was nearing the end of a six-month period without having attended any meeting of the council, and if her absence extended over the six month period, the town council would have no other recourse but to act in accordance with the terms of the Local Government Act 1972 sections 85 and 86.
This states: “If a member of the council authority fails throughout a period of six consecutive months from the date of his/her last attendance to attend any meeting of the authority, he/she shall, unless the failure was due to some reason approved by the authority before the expiry of that period, cease to be a member of the authority”.
It adds: “Where a member of a local authority ceases to be a member of the authority by reason of failure to attend meetings of the authority; the authority shall, except in any case in which a declaration has been made by the High Court under this Part of this Act, forthwith declare his/her office to be vacant”.
On the advice of the town clerk, Mrs Harvey wrote to the council explaining why she had not attended and asked for an extension of the six month period due to her ill-health. At the next council meeting it was unanimously agreed that Mrs Harvey be given a three-month extension to end at the last meeting of the council held in June.
Mrs Harvey was advised of this decision by letter on March 23rd. This council has received no further communication from Mrs Harvey since the letter applying for an extension.
Mrs Harvey was kept informed of the situation by the town clerk and I refute Mr Roberts’ attempt to attach blame to staff of this council for Mrs Harvey’s present position.
Cllr C. Blakemore,
Haverfordwest mayor,
Picton House,
2 Picton Place,
Haverfordwest.
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