An education councillor will be asked to “consider his position” on a crucial committee after failing to attend vital meetings.
Reform UK’s Councillor David Maclean has been absent from the first three sessions of the Children’s Services, Education and Skills Committee (CSESC), its Conservative chair, Councillor Paul Brading (Con), told members last night (Thursday).
Only attended two out of six committee meetings
Councillor Maclean has attended only two out of six committee meetings he has been expected to attend since being elected as Lake North’s representative in May, according to the Isle of Wight Council’s website.
His Reform UK colleague Councillor Caroline Gladwin stepped in for him yesterday, telling CSESC she would “likely” be “taking over” from him because of her “interest” in the committee.
Not present at by-election count
Councillor Maclean was not present at the 3rd May by-election count or his initiation ceremony at County Hall the following week.
After unsuccessfully trying to contact the councillor at that time, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) was told by Reform UK’s press office his absences were due to a serious illness in the family.
Brading: Decision-making will be hard going forward
Councillor Brading said yesterday,
“I’m conscious Councillor Maclean has not been to our first three meetings. It really does concern me because at our first three meetings we shared a lot of background information around the portfolio.
“Going forward we have some real key decisions to make and I’m just wary that without the knowledge we’ve all picked up from our first three meetings, it may be a problem.
“I really feel that without the information we’ve all shared from our three meetings, decision-making will be hard going forward.”
Asked to reconsider position
In an interview with the LDRS in June, Councillor Brading, the member for Lake South, said the Island has “too many” primary schools and there will need to be closures, with the Isle of Wight’s falling birth rate and pupil numbers having a “massive impact” on school finances.
Councillor Brading said he needed to email Councillor Maclean after last night’s meeting, “asking him to consider his position”, adding it was his duty as committee chair.
Love: It’s not fair to the ward he represents
East Cowes independent representative Councillor Karl Love said there were “extremely difficult” and “complex matters” which need to be resolved by the committee.
“Therefore, as much training, as much knowledge as possible needs to be brought into this meeting to make those decisions.
“Also, it’s not fair to the ward (Lake North) which he represents not to be represented at meetings like this.”
Councillor Maclean has been approached for comment.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
