A COUNCILLOR who is to stand down after attending just four meetings in a year has broken his silence.

Labour member Zahir Ahmed, who sits on Burnley Council and will quit at next year’s town hall elections, said regular visits to see his ill parents in Pakistan had accounted for the absences.

But he said that he would now be completely committed to his role until he formally stands down.

And he blamed disgruntled non-Labour voters in his Daneshouse and Stoneyholme ward for a letter accusing him of failing in his duties of a councillor.

Coun Ahmed, who was elected in 2006, said: “My decision to stand down is all to do with time – sometimes I had to go to Pakistan.

“The main thing is that I am back now and I have got every intention of seeing out the time I have got left and I need to do the best I can for the ward.

“I feel that I can commit myself fully until next year but in future people have got a choice over who they elect and who will serve them best.”

Earlier this month, it was revealed that, based on his basic councillor’s allowance of £2,700, Coun Ahmed collected £675 for each full council meeting he attended.

But he said it was not the only gauge of his performance as a councillor.

Coun Ahmed said: “People can say I have not been to meetings but I have been doing things in the ward that don’t get seen.

“When you look at the number of hours councillors put in speaking to people and speaking to officers, it is a lot of hours.

“I put a lot of hours in and I don’t always get credit.”

He also blamed political opponents for an anonymous letter to the Lancashire Telegraph and other councillors, that alleged Coun Ahmed “never” attends meetings or works in his ward.

Borough council elections are due to be held in Burnley next May.