Wisbech Town Council welcomes its youngest member after removal of Simon King
Story by: MAGGIE GIBSON FAILURE to attend meetings has led to Conservative Councillor Simon King being removed from Wisbech Town Council and replaced by its youngest member ever. Samantha Hoy, 22, was co-opted onto the council to serve Hill Ward after ele
Story by: MAGGIE GIBSON
FAILURE to attend meetings has led to Conservative Councillor Simon King being removed from Wisbech Town Council and replaced by its youngest member ever.
Samantha Hoy, 22, was co-opted onto the council to serve Hill Ward after electors failed to call for a by-election following the causal vacancy created by the removal of Cllr King.
Cllr King challenged the decision to lapse him claiming his attendance of the council's annual assembly satisfied the criteria of attending at least one meeting in six months.
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After taking legal advice he was told the annual assembly did count as a meeting but the council's advice was the opposite.
Cllr King who also serves on the district and county councils had failed to offer apologies for all his absences.
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Cllr King said: "My principal feeling at this point is that I am glad a young person has been given the opportunity to become a councillor and I am sure she will do a terrific job.
"I could have gone to a judicial review which is a very expensive process and would have cost a minimum of �15,000. I think it is a grey area and I didn't think it was worth colouring it in to the tune of �15,000 which, if I had been successful, would have ended up being paid by the electorate."
Miss Hoy, a credit card salesperson for a large local retailer, went through a rigorous selection process during which executive members of the District Conservative Association played a leading role.
The decision to co-opt Miss Hoy was made at a full council meeting. Miss Hoy who says she will attend all council meetings, said: "I didn't know you could become a councillor at 18 years old, I thought you had to be 21, otherwise I would have tried a little earlier."
Former mayor Councillor David Oliver, who will be the new councillor's mentor, said: "We are pleased that Sam will bring her youthfulness and vigour to the role.
