A TORY councillor is facing possible expulsion from his town hall duties after failing to attend a meeting for almost six months.

Coun Jonathan Gilbert, who represents Whittlefield-with-Ightenhill ward for the Conservatives, has not been present at a Burnley authority meeting since last August’s full council gathering.

But it is understood by the Lancashire Telegraph that the councillor, who lives in Ightenhill, will attend Wednesday’s full council meeting to offer an explanation.

He is a member of the borough’s development control committee, sits on the economic scrutiny panel, and Burnley Community Safety Partnership’s steering group.

If Coun Gilbert does not show up, then he could be expelled from the council, due to non-attendance, forcing a by-election.

The poll could be held within the next month, or delayed until the full round of borough elections in May.

The councillor, who works for Lancashire Education Consortium, had an 82per cent attendance record in 2008-09, and has been on the council for four years.

At the weekend he said he would not be making a comment ahead of the meeting.