A Birmingham councillor seriously injured in a fall last year is losing his seat – because Labour bosses failed to write him a sick note.
Phil Walkling was so badly injured last summer he was unable to attend public meetings and automatically lost his Bournville seat.
However, the former council audit committee chairman could have been kept on if the Birmingham Labour Group had applied for special dispensation due to serious illness – but the party failed to do so.
The Mail understands that the 70-year-old politician, a former vice-chancellor of the University of Central England, has undergone surgery since the accident and has been sadly unable to attend meetings.
His departure from the council will be officially confirmed at a meeting of the Council Business Management Committee on March 22.
Labour deputy leader Ian Ward said: “The Labour group has made a mistake in not applying for special dispensation and this has cost Phil his seat. It is through no fault of his own.”
Coun Walkling is well respected member of the council and chaired the audit committee, examining council accounts and finances, until last May. He was previously a leader in education in the city with high profile roles at the former UCE and South and City College.
His term was due to end at the May election so there will not be a by-election and the seat will remain vacant until then.
It is not known if Coun Walkling intends to return to frontline politics following his recovery.
