Ludicrous

* £11,000 bill for taxpayers

* Two schools closed for vote

COUNCILLOR who was kicked out for not attending a meeting in six months – forcing a by-election that will cost taxpayers £11,000 – sparked fury last night by vowing to fight for his seat.

Steve Jones claimed he was too busy to attend a single session at Darlington Borough Council because he was “getting settled into a new job”. Despite repeated warnings from town hall officials, he said he had no idea he was about to be thrown out.

The by-election caused by his non-attendance will cost council tax payers £11,000.

It will also cause disruptions to scores of families because two schools will have to close so voting can take place.

Mr Jones, who was still entitled to collect a council allowance of £3,906 despite not setting foot in the council chamber since April, said last night he had never given up helping constituents with their problems.

But there was general astonishment at his plan to stand in the by-election next month, with one leading councillor branding it “totally ludicrous”.

Mr Jones, who is an independent, was thrown off Darlington council at the start of this month because he had not been to a meeting since April. The council immediately called a by-election to find a new representative for the North Road ward.

Although nominations do not have to be made to the council until noon today, Mr Jones told The Northern Echo last night he had decided to stand again.

He said he regretted letting the electorate down, but planned to stand because he had not been aware he was about to be sacked.

He said: “In all that time, I was still chasing up complaints from residents and speaking to residents. I was still working. It was an oversight on my part.

“It is something I regret. I was just getting myself settled into my new job. I regret that this has come about. I do believe passionately in my ward. I don’t want to let them down.

“I have let them down by causing the council to call a by-election. But I don’t want to let them down again.”

He said after ten years, he had started a new job four months ago and had been unable to find the time to attend meetings.

A council spokesman said officers had tried to contact Mr Jones.

Chief executive Ada Burns said: “We contacted Councillor Jones in various ways, including visiting him at home and by letter.”

As well as costing £11,000, the by-election will mean the council will have to close two schools, North Road Primary and the Phoenix Centre, a pupil referral unit, so they can be used as polling stations.

St Thomas’ Church, in North Road, will also be closed.

The Electoral Commission confirmed there was nothing to stop Mr Jones from standing again.

However, council leader John Williams said: “This is a by-election we have to have.

“The reason that the tax payer is going to this expense is because Steve Jones could not get to a meeting for six months.

“I have a great deal of sympathy with him personally.

But the fact we are having this by-election is due to him, either for work reasons or whatever.

“He should have found the opportunity to attend at least one meeting during that period.

People who vote in local councillors expect them to do a job. His decision is a bit surprising.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Barker was less forgiving.

He branded Mr Jones’ decision as “totally ludicrous”, adding: “Not only has he not bothered to represent his constituents for the past six months, we are closing two schools for the day, hundreds of parents have to make childcare arrangements and the council is stuck with a bill for the election.

“It is absolutely shocking.”

Conservative councillor Charles Johnson said: “I am not in favour of his re-standing, but he does what he wants to do. It is not the council he has let down, it is the people.”

Mr Jones was first elected to Darlington Borough Council in 2003 as a Liberal Democrat councillor, later becoming party group leader.

However, he was ousted by his colleagues in April last year, ahead of the local elections, because he signed nomination papers for a rival local candidate running for the British National Party.

He won re-election and served as an Independent councillor until October 2, when he was thrown off the council at a full meeting.