Shropshire Star

Aspergers row after councillor is voted off paid post

A row has broken out after a councillor who announced he suffers from Aspergers syndrome was voted off a committee due to having a poor attendance record.

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Powys County Councillor Pete Roberts, who was the paid chairman of the learning skills and economy scrutiny committee, was subject to a vote at a recent council meeting where members were told he had only attended 46 per cent of the meetings.

However before the vote, the councillor for Llandrindod Wells made an impassioned speech to fellow members where he disclosed he had been dealing with high functioning autism and Aspergers syndrome.

Councillor Roberts said his attendance record was down to clashes with medical appointments, however he had been involved in some meetings over Skype.

Despite the plea, councillors voted 33 to 24 in to remove Councillor Roberts from his role.

He said the move from the independent and Conservative members to follow the party line despite knowing the situation felt like a "kick in the teeth", for him and others in public life who live with an unseen disability.

After the vote, Lib Dem leader James Gibson Watt was asked to come up with an alternative candidate, but he declined and said: "It's a pretty shameful day for the authority and I've seen some pretty difficult ones.

"I would have thought members would respect the wishes of the group who had the right to choose the chair of this committee. They need to reflect very carefully on what they have done.”

Now Conservative councillor Iain Mcintosh has announced that he too had high functioning Asperger’s syndrome, and accused the Lib Dems of deceiving members of the public by making them think Councillor Roberts had been removed because of his medical condition.

He added: "Having Asperger’s syndrome in no way justifies not turning up to so many committee meetings. My attendance record is currently 100 per cent and if I need to see my doctor or make any other appointments I make sure I fit them in with my council commitments.

'Unacceptable'

“In a paid role it is simply unacceptable for Councillor Pete Roberts not to do the same, particularly in a role that is supposed to be overseeing the way vital services such as children’s and adult services is run.

“To the entire Liberal Democrat group I say the way you have spun and commented on this situation, placing someone like me in the position where I have had to disclose my condition, to disprove your claims, is utterly disgusting. I hope you all feel proud of yourselves.”

Council leader Rosemarie Harris has praised Councillor Roberts for disclosing his condition to the full council meeting recently, but said the vote was taken due to his poor attendance record and not his condition.

She added: "There is little doubt that it took courage for Councillor Peter Roberts to share his condition with the rest of council.

“However, despite the personal statement by Councillor Roberts, councillors did not support that he should continue as chair of a key scrutiny committee because of concerns about his overall attendance record, and not because of the statement he made at council.

"This was at the same time that council supported a fresh approach to scrutiny.

“The council is committed to assisting elected members so that they fulfil their role and ensure they carry out their duties to the best of their ability and serve the people of Powys."