A KEIGHLEY councillor wanting to improve councillors' attendance at meetings has had his recommended change to the rules voted down at the Yorkshire Local Council Association (YLCA) Joint Annual meeting.

Earlier this year Keighley town councillor Michael Westerman proposed a change in Government legislation so members of larger local councils would be disqualified through non-attendance of meetings after three months rather than the current six month rule.

This motion was backed by attendees at the YLCA South Pennine Branch meeting on June 13.

However, updating fellow councillors at last night's (July 27) town council meeting, Cllr Westerman said the motion was narrowly defeated at the annual YLCA meeting in York.

"I went to the AGM with Cllr Julie Adams and even though we said this proposal was only for larger councils it was defeated by three votes," he said.

"But we were told we could bring it back in 12 months under a different guise."

Cllr Westerman has previously complained that some people are being let down by councillors who are not carrying out their civic business and are failing to regularly attend council meetings.