Dear David.

I have returned from annual leave and I am now able to respond to your questions.

Councillors Helen and Tony Gorham have not attended any face to face Full Council meetings since the date you refer to in your email.

However, both these councillors have attended virtual meetings representing their parishioners this is on record by virtue that our parish minutes are on public view on the Parishes website.

Ash Parish Council have been advised that the manner in which they run meetings and the fact that Councillors  Helen and Tony Gorham attend virtual meetings is acceptable under Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 attendance requirements.

Regards

Dennis Wheeler DMS MCIHort

Parish Clerk to the Council

Ash Parish Council

The Ash Centre

Ash Hill Road

Ash

Surrey

GU12 5DP

Tel   01252 328287

Fax  01252 319338

www.ashpcsurrey.gov.uk

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From: David Reading <[email address]>
Sent: 22 November 2021 16:06
To: Dennis Wheeler <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Questions re two Ash Parish Councillors

Dear Mr Wheeler - I write in relation to the email I sent to you on November 10th (see below) and the follow-up sent by Martin Giles, editor of the Guildford Dragon, on November 12th. We note that you haven't yet replied, and wonder if you would let us know if a reply will be forthcoming, and when this is likely to be.

Regards,

David Reading

Guildford Dragon News


From: David Reading
Sent: 10 November 2021 10:32
To:
[email address] <[email address]>
Cc:
[email address] <[email address]>
Subject: Questions re two Ash Parish Councillors

 

Dear Mr Wheeler - As I am sure you know, I am the Ash reporter for the Guildford Dragon NEWS. 

 We are putting together a report on the fact that two members of Ash Parish Council, Cllr Tony Gorham and Cllr Helen Gorham, moved away to Marlborough last year and have failed to attend any meeting of Ash Parish Council in person over a period of six months (May to October 2021). 

 

The chairman, Cllr Manning, has informed us that Mr and Mrs Gorham are not disqualified through their failure to attend in person for six months. Can you please explain how this is the case? 

In your capacity as Clerk to Ash Parish Council would you please answer two questions:

 

1. Please confirm. Have they or have they not attended in person in the six months since remote attendance was no longer allowed (i.e. from May 7, 2021)? 

2. Is there some other reason under the relevant legislation that allows them to continue to serve on Ash Parish Council? 

I would appreciate a reply by 2pm on Friday November 12

 

Regards, 

 

David Reading 

Guildford Dragon NEWS 

 

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