Absentee councillors invited to resign

Plymouth duo live in Gloucestershire

Plymouth City Council has agreed that two Tory councillors, who now live in Gloucestershire, should be asked to resign immediately and not wait until next year’s elections. 

At a meeting of full council on Monday 21 November, members were asked if Cllrs Shannon Burden and Dan Collins should quit.

Cllr Dan Collins (Plympton Chaddlewood) and his wife Cllr Shannon Burden (Moor View) became councillors in May 2021 but the couple now live in Gloucester. 

Proposing the motion, Independent Alliance councillor for Plympton Erle, Terri Beer, said: “Both failed to attend community meetings. I can speak about Plympton as the community have never seen Cllr Collins at any community meetings or submit any reports or updates to residents in Plympton Chaddlewood. 

“In fact, he hasn't even bothered to attend the Conservatives branch meeting in Plympton.”

Cllr Beer also suggested Cllr Burden referred people to other councillors in her ward rather than deal with residents’ problems. 

“Cllr Burden has extremely poor attendance at ‘have your say’ meetings in her ward. I know that Cllr Burden puts her out of office on her emails.”

Earlier in the meeting, council leader and Conservative member for Southway, Richard Bingley said the couple were already planning on stepping down next May. 

“I would like to congratulate Dan and Shan who will be having a family and moving forward,” said Cllr Bingley.

“They have both indicated that from next May they will wish to leave public service in Plymouth and we will wish them all the best in the future. And thanks for their contribution to date.” 

Labour, which has raised concerns about the couple previously, backed the motion. Councillor for Stoke, Jemima Laing, said: “This is about the precedent they've been setting for nearly 18 months now; that it's acceptable to collect a councillor allowance for serving a ward you live more than 100 miles away from. 

“We’re all supposed to adhere to the Nolan principles of public life. Indeed, Cllr Bingley referred to them in the chamber when he became leader of the council.”

Cllr Laing added: “I would argue that standing for election and then leaving the area in pretty short order breaches a few of those principles. And it is on that basis that I very much welcome the news the two councillors have finally considered their positions.”

The motion was passed with 31 votes in favour and many Tory councillors abstaining rather than voting against.