Conservatives slam poor councillors' attendance

Local Conservatives have today released a detailed analysis of Haringey Councillors' 2002-03 attendance records and say that the results will come as a surprise to many residents.

Analysisshows that, contrary to expectations, as a whole the Lib-Dem Opposition -- which says it aspires to take over the Labour Council -- turned in the poorer overall attendance record last year (actual meetings attended vs. possible).

The analysisalso shows that 6 Councillors turned in an attendance record poorer than 60% (actual vs. possible). Astonishingly, the poorest attender -- missing fully half of all meetings she was scheduled to attend -- is now Labour's Mayor of Haringey. She was, though, joined in the bottom 3 slot by 2 virtually invisible Liberal Democrats.

Finally, the analysisshows that [discounting the 2 Tottenham Hale Labour Councillors who served only a part year] Lib-Dem 'rising star' Lynne Featherstone had the joint 6th WORST attendance record of all when the actual number of meetings attended is reckoned. Meetings 'missed' included the Main Council Meeting addressed by the parents of Victoria Climbi.

Commenting on the analysis, Justin Hinchcliffe, Chairman of Tottenham Conservatives said:

" These are both surprising and revealing results.

Many Councillors of both Parties have excellent attendance records and are playing a full part at the heart of Council affairs. Well done!

But both Parties are being let down by weak players who need to pull their finger out and to start to justify their new, lucrative allowances.

It is particularly surprising to note that Cllr Featherstone is recorded as showing the 6th worst commitment to playing a full part in Council affairs as measured by the number of meetings attended. Spending more time in the Council representing her electorate and less time on the doorstep pushing the Liberal Democrats should be the order of the day".