£16,900 for councillor who came to six meetings

A row erupted today over a Labour councillor who has "earned" more than £16,900 in allowances over the last two years - whilst living in Glasgow.

Neil Semple has attended just six meetings at Lewisham after he left London to take up a new job in Scotland in 2003.

That works out at a payment of more than £2,800 per meeting. Opposition members are calling for him to resign and repay the money.

Mr Semple attended five out of 16 full council meetings and one out of 38 committee meetings he was eligible for. At one point he went almost six months without attending a single meeting.

Mark Morris, Lib-Dem leader of Lewisham council, said: "How can he represent with such a disgraceful attendance record? He has been claiming allowances for two years despite having moved away and needs to consider paying it back."

The Local Government Act 1972 states that people have to live in, own or occupy land or work in an area for at least 12 months before standing for council.

After that, they can move away from the area. But if they do not attend a meeting in a six-month period they are automatically disqualified.

Mr Semple, who refuses to resign, said: "I've been doing case work and surgeries. It's not possible in my situation for me to attend as many meetings as I would like, but I've tried to carry out my obligations in the best way I can."