A Burntwood councillor has been urged to resign after failing to turn up to an advice surgery he had arranged for local residents to discuss local issues with him.
Cllr Thomas Loughbrough-Rudd, who sits as an independent member for Burntwood North on Staffordshire County Council, had promised to host the session at Burntwood Library today (14th May).
But one resident said he had turned up to find no sign of the councillor.
“I popped down to Burntwood Library to raise an issue with my local county councillor, but he hadn’t bothered to turn up.
“He doesn’t answer his emails and doesn’t do surgeries.”
Burntwood resident
Cllr Loughbrough-Rudd, who has been a county councillor since May 2021, described his non-appearance as a “newbie mistake”.
“I got my dates mixed up in regards to my surgeries.
“It’s a newbie mistake for which I apologise.
“The next one is due in June, but if anyone needs me before then I’ll hire a local business room or carry out a home visit.”
Cllr Thomas Loughbrough-Rudd, Staffordshire County Council
The mix-up is the latest from Cllr Lougbrough-Rudd, who previously had to pay back public money in installments after taking £924 for a tree planting scheme only for it to emerge he’d never planted or even purchased any trees.
The issue led to him being suspended from the controlling Conservative group at the county council, before he later left the party altogether.
Despite quitting Hammerwich Parish Council and Burntwood Town Council, Cllr Loughbrough-Rudd continued in his remunerated position at the county council despite suggesting he would resign.
After announcing his advice surgeries in April, the Burntwood North representative said he would be holding them even though his “former party colleagues abandoned that concept a while ago”.
But after missing the surgery, one former Conservative colleague called on him to resign and make way for someone who could represent local residents effectively.
Cllr Richard Cox, who represents the Lichfield Rural West division, said:
“It’s about time the independent councillor had a reality check with his responsibilities and do the only right thing available to him – resign.”
Cllr Richard Cox, Staffordshire County Council
