Lynne Blackwood dismissed from Salisbury City Council

Lynne Blackwood, a Labour councillor who represented the St Paul's ward, was informed she would be dismissed from Salisbury City Council following a meeting on Monday, September 2.

The law requires a member of a local authority to attend at least one meeting of that authority within a six month consecutive period, in order to avoid being disqualified as a councillor.

The last time Councillor Blackwood attended an official meeting in person was in February.

Since then, she her auto-immune disease worsened and began attacking her internal organs, including her heart.

Lynne Blackwood was elected in 2022. (Image: Salisbury City Council)

Asa Thorpe, CEO of Salisbury City Council, said: “Councillor Blackwood has had health challenges for a good few months. The vacancy has arisen due to non-attendance of former council meetings in a six-month period.

“You have to be physically present in order to participate in a meeting. We sought independent legal advice because obviously there’s a conflict with unreasonable adjustment and the Equalities Act.

“We looked at virtual attendance but it has been made clear to me attendance must be in person. That’s very difficult in this day and age where technology can let someone interact meaningfully virtually.”

The by-election will cost Salisbury City Council £12.5k and the authority has “no opportunity not to spend the money” as it’s the “cost of democracy and the law”.

The last by-election to replace Mark Mewse cost £10.5k and the price is determined by the size of the parish and number of polling stations required.

“We’re instructed by law in what we have to do in these circumstances. I don’t have the ability to negotiate, merely to apply the law," added Mr Thorpe.

Asa Thorpe, CEO of Salisbury City Council. (Image: Salisbury City Council)

Councillor Blackwood said she was “absolutely disgusted” with how she had been treated by fellow councillors and branded the decision “discriminatory”.

Months of trialling medication led to Councillor Blackwood becoming housebound in extreme pain and unfit to participate in council business in person.

But now that she feels well enough to serve her ward, she has been dismissed.

Councillor Blackwood, who formerly chaired the council’s accessibility and inclusion group, said: “There should be an opportunity for someone like me to participate.

“As a disabled councillor I’m being utterly penalised.”

Undertaking the role has left Councillor Blackwood out of pocket as the annual allowance is £750 yet she has spent more than this on travel to constituents and meetings.

“It’s disgusting, after all the good work I did,” said Councillor Blackwood.

“I can’t believe this something like this could happen in 2024.”

Councillor Blackwood made it clear to Mr Thorpe that she did not want a byelection to be called and that her absence was temporary.

The Labour group did not ask for an extension to Councillor Blackwood’s absence on the grounds of ill health.

A byelection to fill the vacancy will be held if 10 electors from the Salisbury St Paul’s Ward write to the Returning Officer at Wiltshire Council by October 3 asking for an election to be held.

Otherwise, the vacancy will be filled by co-option. If an election is called, it will take place no later than December 5.

This report previously stated that Cllr Blackwood was dismissed from the council following a motion at the recent full council meeting. No such motion had been put forward, and the article has been amended.