A councillor who used to serve as his former political group's leader is set to be disqualified from office because he has not been to any meetings for six months.

Cllr James Mason, who has represented Radcliffe East ward on Bury Council for almost five years, is currently sitting as an independent member after leaving the Radcliffe First party in January this year.

He is a former leader of that party and was the first councillor elected for Radcliffe First, who currently have seven representatives on the 51-strong council.

A report to the council’s standards committee said Cllr Mason last attended a meeting on October 12, 2023.

Under the Local Government Act 1972, there is a requirement on all members to attend a formal meeting of the authority in any six-month period, known as the "six-month rule".

Unless non-attendance was due to a reason approved by the authority, the councillor immediately ceases to be a member of the council.

The report said: “There hasn’t been any reasons given for his lack of attendance at meetings despite numerous contacts by the democratic services team.

"When a council member fails to attend any meeting for six consecutive months from the date of their last attendance, they cease to be a member of the authority, unless the council accepts a reason for the failure to attend.

“Cllr Mason has not applied for a dispensation prior to the expiry of the six month period.”

Cllr Mason is set to be disqualified as a councillor on April 12, as he is not currently a member of any committee, sub-committee, joint committee, joint board or other council body which will meet before that date.

Despite his non-attendance at any council meeting for the last six months, Cllr Mason has continued to be eligible to receive an allowance from the council of £11,227 per year.

He was elected in Radcliffe East in 2022 for two years so his term of office was due to end at next month’s local elections.

Once Cllr Mason is removed from office, there will be vacancy for Radcliffe East on the council before it is filled in the elections held on May 2. Cllr Mason stepped down as leader of Radcliffe First in July 2022 saying the job had "taken its toll".

Cllr Mike Smith then became party leader, a position he still holds.

At that time Cllr Smith thanked Cllr Mason for "his hard work and support since starting the party" and said that without his "determination" Radcliffe First would not have started let alone have achieved success.

Cllr Mason did not respond to a request for comment.