A PUSH for tougher rules to ensure members of larger councils represent their communities properly has overcome its first hurdle.

Keighley town councillor Michael Westerman is arguing in favour of a change to the so-called "six-month rule".

This allows for councillors to be automatically disqualified from their role if they fail to attend any meeting of their council for six months, unless their council has approved their reason for absence before the end of the six month period.

Cllr Westerman says he would like this six month allowance to be brought down to just three months at larger councils to encourage better participation by councillors.

He has previously said it is "unfair" that a councillor can claim his or her allowance by only turning up once every six months to any council meeting.

Speaking during Keighley Town Council's latest full meeting, Cllr Westerman said his proposal to cut the allowance to three months was approved at a meeting of the South Pennine Branch of the Yorkshire Local Council Association. (YLCA)

His recommendation is now due to go before the YLCA's annual general meeting in July.

If it is voted through here, it will go to the National Association of Local Councils, which would then put the proposal before a Government minister.