A persistently absent councillor has managed to save his seat – and his allowance – by turning up for a meeting in the nick of time.
Councillor Graham Jeffery, who represents the Hutton ward, in Guisborough, on Redcar and Cleveland Council, previously had a bid for a further six month exemption from meetings due to continued ill health rejected following a member vote.
Liberal Democrat Cllr Jeffery’s current exemption was due to end on October 25 after which, under legislation, he could have been removed from the council and his seat declared vacant, prompting a by-election, since he had failed to attend a single meeting in a six month period.
But it has now emerged he was present at a scrutiny committee ‘task and finish’ meeting relating to litter bins earlier this week after standing in as a substitute for Lib Dem group leader, Councillor Jemma Joy.
The council confirmed this was a formal meeting and qualified as a valid attendance, therefore setting the six month clock running again.
Cllr Jeffery, whose current annual allowance amounts to £11,135, has – according to council reports – been advised by doctors to avoid large indoor gatherings and particularly those with air conditioned/re-circulated air due to a lung condition he has received treatment for.
He has maintained that, with the exception of in-person meetings, he can carry out ward work and represent residents, although he failed to make any requests of a members enquiries service available to councillors in a 12 month period.
Neither Cllr Jeffery or Cllr Joy have responded to requests for comment from the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
Cllr Jeffery, who was first elected to the council in 2007, had last attended a council meeting in September 2025, 13 months ago.
He had previously been granted two six month exemptions, although a proposed third was voted down by councillors earlier this month.
The LDRS asked the council if there was a requirement for medical evidence to be provided as part of the case for such dispensations, and was told there was not.
Councillor Carolyn Curr, the leader of the Conservative group on Redcar and Cleveland Council, said Cllr Jeffery had made a “miraculous recovery to save his allowance”.
Councillor Carolyn Curr. Picture/credit: Carolyn Curr/Facebook. Free for use for all LDRS partners.
She said it was “shameless” and showed a “complete lack of integrity”.
Cllr Curr said Conservatives intended to make a complaint to the Local Government Association over the council’s handling of the matter.
Another Tory councillor, Dave Taylor, who represents Eston ward, said the events which had played out were an “absolute joke”.
He said: “I sincerely hope his [Cllr Jeffery’s] health has improved, but Hutton residents deserve sustained representation.”
Eston ward councillor David Taylor. Picture/credit: UGC. Free for use for all LDRS partners.
Cllr Taylor said the council could not justify further exemptions while Cllr Jeffery continued to receive a “taxpayer funded” councillor’s allowance.
He said: “Most working people would find it extraordinary that someone could remain in a paid public role for many years with so little evidence of activity.
“Supporting someone through illness matters, but so does accountability.”
The councillor questioned support for Cllr Jeffery from some councillors on the local authority, asking: “Are they protecting residents’ interests or protecting their own seats?”
Asked for his view, council leader, Labour’s Alec Brown, said a by-election would have cost more than Cllr Jeffery’s allowance.
He refused to join in with the criticism of the councillor.
Council monitoring officer Steve Newton previously told councillors the costs of a by-election would be approximately between £8,000 and £10,000.
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A council spokesman said: “Cllr Jeffery attended a meeting of a scrutiny task and finish group relating to litter bins.
“This is a formal meeting so qualifies as a valid attendance for the purposes of the legislation.
“As this meeting took place ahead of the dispensation expiring later this month, Councillor Jeffery retains his seat and a vacancy will not now arise.”