A COUNCIL meeting had to be abandoned less than two minutes in after eight elected members failed to attend.
An online meeting at Scottish Borders Council on Thursday of the Eildon Area Partnership had lasted less than two minutes when it came to an abrupt halt.
Chair councillor Fay Sinclair, who represents the SNP for Galashiels & District, thanked those members, included council officers, who had attended the “brief” meeting.
She had attended alongside fellow SNP councillor John PatonDay, who represents Leaderdale & Melrose, but another eight elected members of the Partnership expected at the meeting did not.
A council meeting is considered not quorate, meaning it cannot conduct business, when fewer than the required number of members are present, typically one-third of the total membership, but no less than three.
She said: “Unfortunately, I need to make the decision that under Standing Order number 20 that because the quorum of members is not present, we are not quorate, as chair I am adjourning the meeting to a time we can fix after this point.”
The meeting live-stream was then ended after one minute and 41 seconds.
