Members of Ross-on-Wye Town Council granted Councillor Derek Bedford a continued leave of absence, due to his ill health.

At the Full Council meeting on Monday, November 14th, the Town Clerk, Sarah Robson told members that she had been to visit Cllr Bedford. She said that the last meeting he had attended was July 11th, 2016, and he had not attended meetings since then because of his ill health.

She told the members of the Council that if a Councillor does not attend meetings for six months, they are dismissed. She said that Cllr Bedford had asked her for an extension. “He feels unable to come out in the winter,” said Ms Robson. “When the weather improves, he is hopeful that he will be able to rejoin us at some point.”

The members of Ross Town Council granted Cllr Bedford an extension of six months from their November meeting.

Cllr David Ravenscroft, the Mayor of Ross said, “Derek’s a very keen member, and I’m sure he’d be here if he could.”