CHRIS Buglass’ removal from office as a councillor for Longdendale on Tameside Council was brought about through ill health.
Chris ceased to be a councillor for non-attendance of meetings, Tameside Council confirmed.
But in a later press statement, a Tameside Council spokesperson said: “Chris Buglass has now given the council consent to share his personal information that he has been battling with an illness, and been too ill to work but was hoping to recover quickly and return to see out the rest of his term.
“Unfortunately, after a few months, he was still unwell and felt that not continuing was right thing to do and was looking to stand down as a councillor for health reasons.
“On December 25, he ceased to be a councillor under Local Government Act 1972 and has received no public funding and/or allowances from this.
“He asks for privacy during his recovery.”
Chris was elected to the Longdendale ward in May 2016 and was chair of Londendale Town Council, a member of the Speakers Panel (Licencing), Werneth Low Country Park Joint Management Committee and the Integrated Care and Wellbeing Scrutiny Panel.
A by-election will not be called as there is less than six months until the next council elections in May.
In an initial statement, Tameside Council said: “When a councillor fails to attend a single meeting over a six-month period they automatically cease being a councillor (Local Government Act 1972).
“Chris Buglass stopped being a councillor on December 25 as he hadn’t attended a formal council meeting for the previous six months.
“A by-election will not be held when a councillor leaves their role within six months of when they would be up for election.
“In the case of Chris Buglass his term of office was due to end on May 7, 2020 so a by-election was not called.”