A VACANCY on Tavistock Town Council has been avoided, following a meeting in the town last week.
Members heard that Cllr Jane Ramsey, the Conservative member who holds one of the town's eight north ward seats, had been absent from meetings for six months, due to ill health.
The meeting of the full council heard that under local government rules, members should formally resolve to accept Cllr Ramsay's apologies for absence at that meeting — if they did not, her seat would be forfeit and a casual vacancy should be declared.
Cllr David Whitcomb said while he 'read with sadness' Cllr Ramsay's apologies for her prolonged absence, he felt the council should be operating to its full strength.
Cllr Ted Sherrell said: 'It's sad news — Mrs Ramsey is a very good councillor, she's a lady of individual mind and spirit and I regard her very highly as a representative of the people, but the community must come first and they have a right to be represented by 17 councillors.'
Cllr Sherrell proposed 'with sadness and regret' the council should not accept Cllr Ramsay's apologies.
But Cllr Brian Trew said Cllr Ramsay had been a 'consistent and honourable' member of the council and she should be given more time to return to her civic duties.
Cllr John Sellis said it would be a 'gross misjustice' to refuse to accept Cllr Ramsay's continued apologies for absence.
Cllr Philip Sanders shared Cllr Sellis's concerns but was also worried as to how much longer Cllr Ramsey was likely to be absent from meetings.
Cllr Mandy Govier said Cllr Ramsey was very keen to return to council meetings again.
'She's been into the office to try and keep up with things — if she didn't want to come back, she would certainly let us know,' said Cllr Govier.
The council rejected Cllr Sherrell's proposal and agreed the situation be revisited in another six months.