A Conservative councillor’s claim that he did not have enough time to take up a seat on Hammerwich Parish Council have been rubbished by a local Labour representative.
Cllr Ken Humphreys did not sign the paperwork to accept his seat after the local elections in May.
He told LichfieldLive that increased demands on his time as a district councillor meant he was unable to take up the position in Hammerwich
But Labour’s Cllr Darren Ennis, who sits on Burntwood Town Council, said Cllr Humphreys’ claims didn’t add up.
“I’m very disappointed that he thinks being a district councillor doesn’t give him enough time to sit on the parish council,” he said.
“As to his suggestion that he does not have enough time, I am struggling to see why.
“I manage to get to the meetings, do case work and be there for the people of Chasetown who voted me in. I do this while managing a business, being a father, school governor and treasurer of Grangemoor WMC.”
But Cllr Humphreys claimed a reduction in the number of district councillors meant an increased workload for elected representatives.
“The Boundary Commission changed everything as you’ve now got a lot more electorate to look after and it makes for a busy life.
“It used to take me about 10 hours a week for district and five for Burntwood Town Council and Hammerwich Parish Council, but now it’s a lot more than that.
“It’s not quite a full time job now but it’s getting on that way.”