Work prevents 100% attendance

I AM writing in response to Cllr Gilbert s letter ( Councils must attract members in work , September 3). I completely agree to this sentiment. The councils in this area do have a large number of people with time on their hands, and more must be done to a

I AM writing in response to Cllr Gilbert's letter ("Councils must attract members in work", September 3). I completely agree to this sentiment. The councils in this area do have a large number of people with time on their hands, and more must be done to attract people who work.

Cllr Gilbert picks out an arbitrary figure of 70 per cent as the target figure of attendance at council meetings. Luckily, his attendance record is at present 80 per cent, so he is an OK Councillor.

I can also see that some meetings may have to be missed, as work and family commitments do clash with council meetings, especially full council meetings, which are held during the day, meaning Mr and Mrs nine-to-five are unable to attend to see democracy at work.

But I would like to take issue with Cllr Gilbert, who beat me in the district council elections. His publications attacked my attendance at council meetings. But he never asked why. It was because I work, I have three children, one of whom was born while I was a councillor: I believe that she was born on the day of a full council meeting. I hope he wouldn't criticise me for having that day off! So yes I did have a low attendance figure, but that is because I live in the real world and have other responsibilities - just the type of person Cllr Gilbert would like to see as a councillor (as long as they are Conservative, of course).

IAN TAYLOR

Ireton Close

Eynesbury