Almost a quarter of councillors in Salford attend only around half of their council meetings. Attendance data shows that 12 of the elected representatives attended only about 50 per cent of their panels in the last year-and-a-half, and 23 attended only two-thirds of their commitments.
The councillors, who receive an untaxed allowance of between £12,500 and £84,000, are chosen to attend meetings where decisions about everything from bins, roads, and parks to social care and homelessness are scrutinised and discussed.
Lowest attendance figures
The overall lowest attendances are held by Labour councillors John Walsh (17pc) and Barry Warner (23pc), and Tory councillor Jan Barrington (25pc). The most highly paid councillor in the low attendance league table is coun Hannah Robinson-Smith, the cabinet member for Lead Member for Culture, Heritage, Sports and Leisure, who received an allowance of £30,771 last year, and attended 36 of 127 meetings since January 2025 (28pc).
Nine of those with the lowest attendances were Labour councillors, while three were from the Conservative group – half of their group.
Reform leader criticizes both groups
Leader of the Reform group Ivan Voronov slammed both groups for treating their roles as councillors as a 'gig' and not taking their responsibilities seriously. “Both Labour and the Tories have gotten too comfortable,” he added.
Here is a league table of the lowest attendances:
- Coun John Walsh, Higher Irlam and Peel Green, Labour: 17pc
- Coun Barry Warner, Pendlebury and Clifton, Labour: 23pc
- Jan Barrington, Boothstown and Ellenbrook, Conservative: 25pc
- Coun Hannah Robinson-Smith, Cadishead & Lower Irlam and Lead Member for Culture, Heritage, Sports & Leisure, Labour: 28pc
- Jake Rowland, The Quays, Labour: 28pc
- Bob Clarke, Boothstown and Ellenbrook, Conservative: 43pc
- Darren Ward, Boothstown and Ellenbrook, Conservative: 45pc
- Tanya Burch, Ordsall, Labour: 51pc
- Jim Cammell, Swinton Park, Labour: 52pc
- Emma Louise Cammell, Blackfriars and Trinity, Labour: 55pc
- Michele Barnes, Pendleton and Charlestown, Labour: 56pc
- John Merry, Broughton, Labour: 56pc
Responses from political groups
Responding to the above findings, a spokesperson for the Salford Conservative Group said: “We make every effort to attend as many formal council meetings as possible, balancing these duties alongside our full-time professional and personal work commitments outside of politics. However, attendance at town hall meetings is only one narrow aspect of a councillor’s actual workload. The vast majority of our time is spent working every single day directly within our ward supporting local community groups, and tirelessly resolving individual issues for the people we represent.”
A spokesperson for the Salford Labour group said: “Salford Labour expects the highest standards of commitment from all its councillors, while recognising that elected members must balance their public responsibilities with careers, family life, and other personal commitments. As the administration running Salford City Council, Labour also must balance city-wide leadership responsibilities with local ward representation. Our group includes the City Mayor and Deputy Mayors, whose roles often require them to represent Salford at regional, national, and international forums, including the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. While these duties are vital to promoting Salford’s interests, building partnerships, and securing investment, they can on occasion coincide with internal Council meetings.”
Previous criticism and data removal
Councillors previously came under fire for their low attendance last year. At the time, the Lib Dem group blasted the leading group in particular, stating: “Residents have the right to expect active, present, and engaged representation – particularly in committees designed to hold executive power to account. The data shows that this is not currently happening.”
The council consequently removed the data from the website for more than six months claiming it was 'inaccurate' and would be 'updated'. After quietly returning the stats to the website, it’s clear that attendance in some quarters is still low.
