SITTING AROUND THE COUNCIL TABLE is only one part of a councillor's role, says Napier mayor Bill Dalton.
"At the end of the day, if you have a look at a councillor's salary they're based on being part-time. Some councillors who may have missed the odd meeting are the best contributors because they work so hard in other areas. Councillors do a hell of a lot of work in the community and attending meetings is only one of the areas where they are involved."
Mr Dalton said he was very comfortable with the fact that councillors regularly attended, and contributed at meetings.
When asked if there were valid reasons for councillors' absence from required meetings, he said: "The only reason a councillor would miss a meeting was if there was a valid reason, otherwise they'd be there."
No councillor had a 100 per cent attendance record for the 274 meetings, and seminars since the 2013 election - this figure did not include some other committee meetings.