A WEST Somerset councillor suffering ill health has been granted six months leave of absence from her duties.

Cllr Christine Lawrence, who lives in Minehead, represents Dunster division on the unitary Somerset Council.

The Conservative councillor previously represented the area on Somerset County Council before the authority was replaced in April of this year.

Council chief executive Duncan Sharkey has agreed a leave of absence for Cllr Lawrence, citing ‘ill health’ as the reason.

During Cllr Lawrence’s absence, casework from the division will be handled by Dunster’s other unitary representative Cllr Marcus Kravis.

Under the council’s constitution, any councillor who fails to attend meetings for six months automatically ceases to be a councillor, triggering a by-election.

However, dispensations can be made by the full council or the chief executive if a councillor becomes ill or is otherwise temporarily indisposed.

Cllr Lawrence’s leave of absence will officially end on March 3, 2024, although it could be extended on request.

Council monitoring officer David Clark said Conservative group opposition leader Cllr David Fothergill had put in the request for a six-month leave of absence for Cllr Lawrence on ill health grounds.

Mr Clark said: “During the period of absence any inquiries from residents and parish or town councils that the councillor represents will be covered by the other divisional member in the electoral division concerned, with further support offered by the relevant political group.”

Cllr Lawrence, whose husband Stuart died in November of last year, sits on the council’s adults and health scrutiny committee and constitution and governance committee.