COUNCILLOR attendance records have been revealed - as calls are made for virtual attendance at meetings to be introduced.

As part of their duties as elected members, Cumberland councillors are expected to attend a number of meetings throughout the year. These range from full council – involving all 46 members – through planning meetings to scrutiny committees.

Figures published by Cumberland Council have revealed the number of meetings councillors have attended against the number of meetings they were expected to attend, from April 1, 2023 (when the authority was established) until November 28 this year.

Data shows that Andrew Semple (Labour, Cockermouth South), chair of the council, has attended every meeting.

Councillors Trevor Allison (Conservative, Dalston and Burgh), Roger Dobson (Liberal Democrat, Corby and Hayton), Anne Glendinning (Labour, Castle), Tony Markley (Conservative, Solway Coast), Tim Pickstone (Liberal Democrat, Longtown) and Kevin Thurlow (Independent, Aspatria) have near perfect attendance records, missing only one meeting.

Brian Wernham (Liberal Democrat, Stanwix Urban) who is currently being treated for prostate cancer, has attended 27 of the 47 meetings where his attendance was expected.

Cllr Wernham said he would like to see virtual attendance be introduced to accommodate councillors who may struggle to attend in person.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner announced last month that the Government will consult on changes to the councillor standards system, which will allow councils to use virtual attendance at council meetings.

Cllr Wernham said: “I welcome the announcement that the Government are considering making committee meetings online. It’s ridiculous that we have to drive the length of Cumberland either from Carlisle to or from Whitehaven for a one or two-hour meeting and claim all of the expenses associated with that.

“That creates a lot of costs and it’s not just councillors, it’s council officers who make those journeys as well. An average committee meeting is costing maybe £500 in expenses.

“At the moment, the law forbids us from doing it online.

“If you look at the councillors, a lot of them are older because working people can’t afford to take time off work for such low pay.

“I think disabled people are really put off being councillors because of the requirements of having to drive to committee meetings, hours away, in the middle of winter.”

Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 states that, where a member of the council fails for six consecutive months to attend any meeting of the authority, they cease to be a member (subject to certain exceptions), unless the failure was due to a reason approved before the expiry of that period.