'He lives closer to Cherbourg than Leamington': Pressure put on councillor to resign his seat on Warwick District Council following his move to the south coast

But the councillor said he has stayed on to help out with Covid problems
Pressure has been put on a councillor to resign his seat on Warwick District Council following his move to the south coast.Pressure has been put on a councillor to resign his seat on Warwick District Council following his move to the south coast.
Pressure has been put on a councillor to resign his seat on Warwick District Council following his move to the south coast.

Pressure has been put on a councillor to resign his seat on Warwick District Council following his move to the south coast.

The matter was raised at tonight's (Wednesday's) full council meeting when it was highlighted that Cllr Jerry Weber (Lab, Leamington Clarendon) no longer lived in the area.

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Cllr Alan Boad (Lib Dem, Leamington Lillington) said: “Given that he relocated some months ago to the south coast and that he is now living closer to Cherbourg than Leamington it is not surprising that declarations of councillor’s interests now show that Cllr Weber now has no property or employment interest in Warwick District.

“Does the leader of the council agree with me that although it is legal, is it morally right for a now absent councillor to vote on the budget tonight and the council tax level that local residents will be required to pay?”

It was explained that Cllr Weber was able to vote if he wished to do so and the leader, Cllr Andrew Day (Con, Bishop’s Tachbrook), said that decision would rest with the councillor concerned.

Cllr Weber responded: “Perhaps I should suggest that if you have a concern about my position on the council and my continuing presence on the council which is down to Covid - under normal circumstances I would have resigned at least a year ago - it is something that the monitoring officer or standards committee should look at and not ask the leader to talk about morals.”

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But Cllr Boad went further, suggesting that a resignation should come sooner rather than later.

He added: “Does the leader of the council agree with me that as the local elections are due to take place on May 6 and Cllr Weber’s impending resignation sometime this year, that to avoid the disruption and additional expense to the council of holding a by-election later in the year it would be better for Cllr Weber to resign now or shortly to allow the by-election to take place on the same day as the other planned elections?”

Cllr Day said: “I think it is sensible for any councillor who is reflecting on their position and considering standing down to do so at a time when there are other elections being held.”