A COUNCIL committee chairman attacked what he described as a “disgraceful” lack of councillor participation which has left his committee struggling to conduct its duties.

Cllr Martin Walker, chairman of Keighley Town Council’s planning committee, spoke out as concerns over councillors failing to attend their own committees resurfaced at the latest full meeting of the town council.

Cllr Walker said his committee needs a minimum of three members present to proceed with meetings. He said with committee vacancies left unfilled and two of its members not having come to any planning meetings in three months, he and his remaining colleagues were being left to shoulder the burden.

“It’s disgraceful that no one is prepared to come onto the committee,” he added.

He paid tribute to his planning colleagues Cllrs Samuel Fletcher and Emanuele Bernardini, and thanked deputy mayor Cllr Peter Corkindale for attending meetings on several occasions to ensure the committee was quorate.

Earlier in the meeting, Keighley town mayor Cllr Fulzar Ahmed warned: “We’re having council committee meetings that are not being able to go ahead due to lack of attendance.”

Cllr Bernardini said: “We all have commitments but it’s not nice when councillors don’t attend their committees and don’t give apologies.

“I suggest we put an attendance record on the town council website, so the people who elect us can see who has been working and who hasn’t.”