Attendance row councillor resigns over ill health

A councillor who said he was too ill to attend meetings and then attended one in time to avoid losing his seat has resigned.

Graham Jeffery, a Liberal Democrat who represents Hutton ward on Redcar and Cleveland Council, was said to suffer from a lung condition and received advice to avoid large indoor events and air conditioned places.

Councillors previously rejected a request for a third six-month exemption from in-person council meetings, but he later stood in for another councillor at a committee meeting, effectively resetting the clock.

A by-election to replace Jeffrey, who has also been a Conservative and independent during 19 years on the council, could be held as early as December.

Jeffery's latest exemption was due to end on 25 October, after which he could have been removed from the council and his seat declared vacant since he had failed to attend a single meeting in a six-month period.

However, he stood in for Liberal Democrat group leader Jemma Joy at a recent scrutiny committee meeting and therefore set the six-month clock running again.

He is understood to have made disclosures about his health to senior officers at the authority, but has not been required to provide medical evidence, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Conservative group leader Carolyn Curr previously called Jeffery "shameless", while other members claimed he had not sent a single e-mail in a 12-month period to an administrative team which picks up councillor queries.

He was also mocked on social media by rival political groups who likened him to a "hide and seek" councillor.

Jeffery has yet to comment, but in a post on the Hutton Liberal Democrats Facebook page Joy claimed some opposing councillors "chose to weaponise Graham's diagnosis".

She said: "Political scrutiny is legitimate. Casting doubt on somebody's illness is cruel."

Joy said he had been suffering from a "chronic illness" and had shown "considerable resilience" in continuing to serve residents.

The council's monitoring officer Steve Newton said a by-election would have to be requested by two electors in writing.

Graham Jeffery did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

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