A VETERAN member of Skipton Town Council has had his poor health reason for not attending a meeting of the council rejected by his fellow councillors.

Councillor Robert Heseltine, who represents Skipton South, was one of six councillors to give their apologies and not attend the full meeting of the council on Thursday, last week.

Cllr Heseltine said he was unable to attend because of health complications, but his apologies were rejected by councillors after hearing claims from one that Cllr Heseltine, who is also a member of North Yorkshire Council and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, did attend other authority meetings.

The five other absent members, Cllrs Annabel Heseltine and Chris Harbron had prior commitments; Cllr Aidan Higgins and Cllr Malcolm Courcier were working, and Cllr Rick Judge, last year's mayor, was recorded as 'absent' in that he gave no apologies at all.

Councillors agreed to accept all of their apologies but voted for letters to be sent reminding them of their responsibilities.

Cllr Lewis Morgan said while he liked Cllr Heseltine, he believed he was not representing the residents of the South Ward ,of which Cllr Heseltine shares with Cllr Morgan, Cllr Karen McIntyre and Cllr Higgins.

He said: "I find it hard to accept apologies when I know other meetings are being attended. The people of south ward are not being represented as they should be."

Thursday's meeting of the town council, which was attended by 10 members, including the mayor, Cllr Sheila Bentley, and deputy-mayor, Cllr Peter Madeley, heard there had been issues with councillors not turning up to meetings.

Cllr Madeley, who seconded Cllr Morgan's proposal to reject Cllr Heseltine's apologies, asked for confirmation that a by-election would be triggered if a councillor failed to attend a meeting of the council over a consecutive six months, without an acceptable reason. Councillors voted six-three to reject Cllr Heseltine's apologties, with one abstention. 

Afterwards, Cllr Heseltine told the Craven Herald he would continue to attend meetings when his health allowed and referred to the councillors who rejected his reason as 'misguided'.

He said: " It never ceases to surprises me when it comes to the actions and opinions of some elected and non-elected politicians.

"It seems that a half dozen members of the council appear to be judge and jury without having any regard whatsoever to my current and continuing severe infirmities. Their actions come across as both personally vindictive to myself and grossly insulting.

"Perhaps those who took this unwarranted action could consider the words of Jesus Christ suffering on the cross to bring truth, understanding and compassion to all mankind. 'Forgive them Lord, they know not what they do'".

"I shall of course continue to diligently represent the people of Skipton, North Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Dales National Park and look forward to returning to full health following the necessary, relevant medical treatments.

"In the meantime I will attend meetings whenever I am physically able to do so, of North Yorkshire Council, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, and even the Skipton Town Council, where obviously I am not welcome by the 'misguided six'."