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Suffolk county councillor plans to continue role from USA | Suffolk county councillor plans to continue role from USA |
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A Suffolk councillor who is moving to the United States is refusing to stand down from his role, insisting he can do the job from almost 4,000 miles away. | A Suffolk councillor who is moving to the United States is refusing to stand down from his role, insisting he can do the job from almost 4,000 miles away. |
Brian Riley, Conservative county councillor for Hadleigh, is moving to North Carolina but plans to visit Suffolk on a regular basis. | Brian Riley, Conservative county councillor for Hadleigh, is moving to North Carolina but plans to visit Suffolk on a regular basis. |
He told the East Anglian Daily Times he intended to use email and Skype to continue in his role. | He told the East Anglian Daily Times he intended to use email and Skype to continue in his role. |
Mark Bee, leader of the council, said Mr Riley's plan "beggars belief". | Mark Bee, leader of the council, said Mr Riley's plan "beggars belief". |
He said Mr Riley had been suspended by the Conservative group and would be urged to consider resigning as a councillor, preferably in time to allow a by-election to coincide with the general election in May. | He said Mr Riley had been suspended by the Conservative group and would be urged to consider resigning as a councillor, preferably in time to allow a by-election to coincide with the general election in May. |
But the emigrating councillor cannot be forced to resign from his role, which includes a £10,000-a-year allowance, as legally he is only required to attend one meeting every six months. | |
"We have been quite nonplussed by the suggestion that a councillor who represents a place like Hadleigh can feel that they can do that job and live 4,000 miles away," Mr Bee said. | "We have been quite nonplussed by the suggestion that a councillor who represents a place like Hadleigh can feel that they can do that job and live 4,000 miles away," Mr Bee said. |
"We don't feel that represents the spirit of being a locally elected representative and the spirit with which that person is elected." | "We don't feel that represents the spirit of being a locally elected representative and the spirit with which that person is elected." |
"We feel it requires much more of a commitment than that and I think the good people of Hadleigh quite frankly deserve better," he said. | "We feel it requires much more of a commitment than that and I think the good people of Hadleigh quite frankly deserve better," he said. |
The BBC has been unable to contact Mr Riley, but he told the East Anglian Daily Times he would fly back to the UK "every six or seven weeks". | The BBC has been unable to contact Mr Riley, but he told the East Anglian Daily Times he would fly back to the UK "every six or seven weeks". |
According to travel site GoEuro, it would take 12 and a half hours for Mr Riley to fly from Raleigh to London Heathrow and then drive to Hadleigh. | |
An air fare for the round trip costs from £779. |