POLITICIANS in the Maldon district did not show up at more than a quarter of their meetings in the past year, new figures reveal.
The 31 elected district councillors, who each pocket a £4,545 annual basic allowance, plus more cash for broadband, travel and extra responsibilities, missed 253 meetings out of the 901 committees they were required to attend.
But although the figures may concern residents, the deputy leader of the council, Cllr Miriam Lewis, says the attendance records are meaningless.
The Conservative councillor for Heybridge West told the Chronicle: "Council meetings are just a fraction of what a councillor does and are not a true reflection of the hard work we do. They do not mean anything in my opinion."
The average Maldon district councillor attended 29 meetings, while missing just over eight
"It's fair to say that some councillors could do more but it's down to time they have and their own personal conscience," Councillor Lewis said.
"If I was a resident it wouldn't worry me that my councillor didn't attend and it's up to the electorate to decide if they want that member to represent them."
The number of meetings a councillor must attend annually varies from as few as 27, to more than 40, depending on what responsibilities they have on various committees.
Often district councillors are also members on Essex County Council or their town or parish councils and may have to arrange for replacements to represent them if meetings clash.
Cllr Lewis added: "Councillors may have parish, or county council obligations, conferences, task groups, field trips, and many also work full time as well as having a family.
"The majority of councillors do a lot of work for their wards both seen and unseen, for instance last week I ended up doing 72 hours.
"We need members with particular expertise, such as in planning or in finance and these people may still be in work but the council can save a great deal of money by using these people."
Conservative councillor for Mayland David Horner attended the fewest meetings from April 2013 to April this year, showing up to just 13.
He was absent at 15, meaning his rate of pay for each meeting based on his basic allowance is around £349.61.
The councillor, who is one of two who does not have a picture of himself on the council website, refused to comment when contacted by the Chronicle.
Taxpayers' Alliance director John O'Connell said: "Local residents will be rightly angry that some councillors seem to treat their roles as voluntary."
At the other end of the scale some councillors found themselves at more than 50 meetings including Henry Bass, Wickham Bishops and Woodham, who went to 58 meetings, Cllr Mrs Maddie Thompson, Tolleshunt D'Arcy, went to 53, leader of the council, Cllr Brian Beale, Althorne, went to 48, and Cllr Miriam Lewis, Heybridge West, Cllr Penny Channer, Mayland, and Cllr Adrian Fluker, Southminster, went to 46.
