Paul Lainchbury accused of unacceptable absenteeism (From The Argus)

Paul Lainchbury accused of unacceptable absenteeism

8:39am Friday 1st May 2009

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A councillor is facing calls for his resignation after it emerged he had missed every committee meeting for a year.

A political storm is building around Councillor Paul Lainchbury, who represents the Goldsmid area of Hove, around St Ann's Well Gardens, on Brighton and Hove City Council.

If he gives way to the calls his fellow Conservative councillors would lose their majority in the council, potentially leading to an overhaul of the controlling cabinet.

Coun Lainchbury was elected in May 2007 but has been accused of having little involvement with either his ward or the council since.

For the past year the 27-year-old financial advisor has missed every meeting of the audit committee, the only council body he sits on, and has been a noteable absentee from residents' meetings in his ward.

In January he stopped claiming his £11,200 a year allowance from the council in response to concerns and it is rumoured he wants to step down.

Claims have been made that he has been prevented from doing so by council leader Mary Mears and senior colleagues who are reluctant to surrender the Conservative majority.

If he resigns the seat it would trigger a by-election in the ward, where Labour hold one seat and missed out on another by 37 votes in 2007. The Green Party also view the seat as a realistic target.

The Conservatives currently have 26 council members and are regularly supported by independent Jayne Bennett. Labour have 13 seats, the Green Party have 12 and the Liberal Democrats have two.

If any of the opposition groups won a by-election the Conservatives would no longer be able to select the cabinet which holds power in the council.

Melanie Davis, the Labour councillor for the Goldsmid ward, said Coun Lainchbury should resign.

She said: "You never see him at anything in the ward, no meetings, no groups, nothing. The voters in this ward elected three people to represent them but one of them is not doing that. He's not representing his constituents and he should step down."

Her party has circulated posters featuring a picture of Coun Lainchbury with the heading "Missing. Have you seen this councillor?"

She was backed by Green Party convenor Bill Randall, who raised the issue at a council meeting last month.

Councillor Randall said: "His party leadership should not allow it. Our party had a similar problem in 2007 with a councillor, Hermione Roy, who felt the workload was too much so we did the noble thing and let her resign."

Coun Lainchbury has not responded to a series of phonecalls and emails from The Argus this week. He has continued to attend full council meetings, meeting the minimum attendance requirement and ensuring the Conservatives can force issues which go to a vote.

Coun Mears said any member of the council was at liberty to resign at any time and added that her party had not blocked any attempt by Coun Lainchbury to step down.

The Goldsmid ward was one of the most keenly contested in May 2007. The main vote-winners were:

Paul Lainchbury (Conservative) 1,330 votes (elected)

Ayas Fallon-Khan (Conservative) 1,238 (elected)

Melanie Davis (Labour) 1,231 (elected)

Vince Meegan (Labour) 1,201

Stephen Wade (Conservative) 1,189

Alun Jones (Labour) 1,098

Rob Jarrett (Green) 1,010

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dstocken, worthing says...
9:39am Fri 1 May 09

it sounds like this guy should be promoted to "Home secretary" as he appears to have all the qualifications of a cabinet minister !