Residents of East Retford may wonder how diligently their elected representatives attend to council business. New data covering committee meetings from September 2024 to February 2025 reveals significant variations in councillor attendance across the district’s wards.
Perfect Attendance Records
Two councillors stand out with exemplary 100% attendance records. Councillor Carolyn Troop (Labour, East Retford South) attended all 15 of her expected meetings, while Councillor Malachi M Carroll (Labour, East Retford West) was present at all 14 meetings he was scheduled to attend. Their perfect records demonstrate a steadfast commitment to their constituents.
Strong Performers
Several councillors maintained notably high attendance rates:
- Councillor Dan Henderson (Labour, East Retford East) attended 10 out of 11 meetings (91%)
- Councillor Jonathan G Slater (Labour, East Retford North), who serves as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing & Estates, attended 9 out of 10 meetings (90%)
- Councillor John O Manners (Conservative, East Retford East) attended 10 out of 12 meetings (83%)
- Councillor Graham A N Oxby (Labour, East Retford North) attended 5 out of 6 meetings (83%)
Room for Improvement
Two councillors recorded attendance rates below 70%:
- Councillor David Challinor (Labour, East Retford North) attended 5 out of 8 meetings (62%)
- Councillor Harriet J Digby (Labour, East Retford West) had the lowest attendance rate at just 42%, attending only 5 out of 12 scheduled meetings
Authorised Absences
It’s worth noting that all absences across the council were recorded with apologies submitted in advance. No councillor was marked as absent without prior notice, suggesting a culture of accountability even when unable to attend.
Broader Context
The data covers various meeting types, including full Council sessions, Planning Committee and Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings. Councillors typically receive around £7,000 annually for their service, though this can range from £3,000 to £16,000 depending on the council and responsibilities. (Source 1)
What This Means for Retford
Attendance at meetings is just one measure of a councillor’s effectiveness. However, regular presence ensures that constituents’ voices are heard during important discussions and votes. With local elections approaching in May 2025, these attendance figures may factor into voters’ decisions, particularly in East Retford West, where current councillor Harriet J Digby’s husband, Piers Digby, reportedly intends to stand as a candidate, as per Facebook.
The Chair of the Council, Councillor Susan E Shaw (Labour, East Retford East), attended 6 out of 8 meetings (75%), which places her in the middle range of attendance rates among her colleagues.
Note: This analysis covers the period from 4th September 2024 to 27th February 2025.
Sources and Disclaimer
The attendance data presented in this article has been obtained from Bassetlaw District Council’s public website, where committee meeting attendance records are published as part of the council’s commitment to transparency and accountability. All statistics regarding councillor attendance at council, planning committee, and overview and scrutiny committee meetings covering the period from 4th September 2024 to 27th February 2025 are derived from these official public records.
The analysis and presentation of this data are provided for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, readers are encouraged to verify information through the council’s official channels if needed.
Information regarding councillor allowances has been sourced from the Local Government Association’s public guidance on councillor remuneration.
This article aims to present factual information about elected officials’ meeting attendance as a matter of public interest. No implications regarding the quality of any councillor’s overall service or representation should be inferred solely from attendance statistics.
List of Sources:
