Thame Councillor dropped after failing to attend meetings

A THAME town councillor has been dropped because she did not attend enough meetings.
The council said that because Claire Walker “failed to attend meetings throughout a period of six consecutive months, under Section 85 of the 1972, she ceases to be a member of Thame Town Council.”

Claire Walker, a Conservative party candidate, was elected to Thame Town Council at the last local elections in May last year, along with her husband, District Cllr, Richard Walker. He resigned from the town council last week but will continue to carry out his duties as district councillor.

The couple run a pub in Thame and have two young children.

At an Extraordinary meeting of the town council last night (15/04), the town clerk, Helen Stewart said: “Had there been an apology before the six months, a Leave of Absence could have been considered.”

Following the publication of a notice of the vacancies by the town council today, 10 voters in the South Ward must submit a written request to the Returning Officer, Council Offices, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, OX10 8PH, within 14 working days, that they wish a By election to be held. Otherwise the council can co-opt two new council members themselves.