Three Liberal Democrat councillors have the lowest meetings attendance record in Brent
Cllr Javaid Ashraf, Cllr Chris Leaman and Cllr Gavin Sneddon name and shamed
Three Liberal Democrat councillors have the lowest meetings attendance record in the borough over the last six months, the Times can reveal.
The trio failed to turn up to nearly half of their duties, since the start of the political year in May.
Dollis Hill Cllr Javaid Ashraf missed half despite being chairman of two committees earning him an extra �4,777 per year on top of his councillor’s allowance.
Cllr Chris Leaman, Mapesbury ward, attended just over half and appears on the list for the second year in a row. Cllr Gavin Sneddon, Willesden Green, managed 57 per cent of his meetings.
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Cllr Sneddon had not been living in the borough and had moved to East Barnet.
Cllr Rev David Clues, Lib Dem, Dudden Hill, attended 67 per cent of his meetings despite having moved to Brighton nearly a year ago.
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All 63 councillors claim an annual basic allowance of �7,895 per year with those carrying extra roles entitled to further payment.
Cllr Ashraf said the figures weren’t a true picture. “In reality as much as we would like to attend everything if a meeting is held on a day when you are not available you will obviously not be able to come.
“A councillor’s job is not just attending meetings and reading reports despite what the general public think.
“The most important thing for a councillor is to be directly available in their community, responding to issues there and meeting residents and I believe me and my colleagues do that very well.”
A Liberal Democrats group spokesman said: “Sometimes council committee meetings clash with ward events, residents’ meetings, work or family commitments or illness. In these circumstances councillors send their apologies and usually arrange for a substitute to attend.”
Although missing more meetings, Tory Northwick Park Cllr Eddie Baker, Wembley Central Cllr Wilhelmina Mitchell Murray and Liberal Democrat Cllr Simon Green have had time off due to personal reasons.
