by Katie Alston
kalston@thekmgroup.co.uk

A TOWN Councillor has been stripped of their title and responsibilities after failing to turn up to a single council meeting for six months.
Retired John Winlow had been hoping to continue his duties as an elected member of Faversham Town Council despite moving to Norfolk.

The 65-year-old had been living in Priory Row, Faversham but moved more than 140 miles away with his wife Pauline last year.
As local councillor for the Davington Priory Ward, he had promised to regularly make the three hour six minute journey to attend meetings, but the last time he attended was on August 2, 2010. Throughout the year he went to nine meetings.

The fact that town councillors are under no obligation to live in the area they represent has been branded a 'sad and peculiar quirk in the law’, by members of Faversham council.

The issue was raised at Monday night’s town council meeting. It was decided that no by-election would be held to replace the disqualified councillor as his sacking falls within six months of the next local elections, and therefore there is no obligation to find an immediate replacement.
Town clerk Sue Brockman said: “Mr Winlow seldom sent an apology for his absence, and his appointment as a town councillor ceased on February 2.”
Town councillor Tom Gates said: “I don’t feel a by-election is necessary at this stage and finding someone to step in at this point would not be worth while and be an unnecessary cost.”
Cllr Winlow told the Faversham News: “I can assure you that there are genuine reasons for my non attendance, and the Town Council was both informed and consulted many months before we actually moved.”