TIME is running out for a Wear Valley councillor serving his constituents from the Caribbean if he wants to keep his seat.

Coun Stephen Gregory must go to at least one meeting of Wear Valley District Council this month, otherwise he faces being disqualified for non-attendance.

In September, it was revealed that Coun Gregory, who receives £4,500 a year for his council role, had moved to the Dominican Republic.

The revelation caused an outcry among people in Bishop Auckland, but Coun Gregory said he could still represent them from the opposite side of the world.

To remain on the council he has to attend at least one meeting every six months and Coun Gregory's time runs out in January.

There was a full council meeting in Crook last night, and there are two further meetings at the Civic Centre in Crook - a central resources committee meeting on Tuesday, December 14, and special council meeting on Wednesday, December 15.

It is not known if Coun Gregory intends to be present at any of the meetings.

He has not been in touch with the council, which has sent copies of the meeting agendas to his address in Bishop Auckland - a flat above his former butcher's shop, which he now rents out.

Members will be asked to call for a change in regulations by Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition Chris Foote Wood. He feels that thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money is being wasted on stay-away councillors, such as Coun Gregory.

Coun Foote Wood said: "There are councillors, of which Stephen Gregory is just one, that turn up once every six months and are happy to claim the same full allowance that dedicated members who go week in, week out receive.

"It may be their legal right, but they don't have the moral right to take taxpayers' money without giving anything in return.

"The system can and should be changed so those who show the minimum commitment get the minimum amount."

He wants the Government to make an order permitting local authorities to create their own two tier systems of payment.

He said that the system should reflect the number of meetings attended in a given period, subject to authorised absences.