Cowling Parish Council is calling for local district councillor Ady Green to stand down.

At this month’s meeting, they questioned Coun Green’s attendance record at both parish and district council meetings.

A statement, prepared by parish council chairman Alan Perrow, claimed parishioners had been having trouble with Coun Green, saying he was “unhelpful”.

A vote of no confidence was carried unanimously by members, who requested that the clerk write a letter to Craven District Council’s Conservative group leader, Coun Chris Knowles-Fitton, requesting that action be taken over Coun Green’s non-attendance at meetings.

However, parish clerk Andrew Mallinson said that as the proposal was not on the agenda it could not be legally put to the vote.

Craven District Council confirmed on Friday that Coun Knowles-Fitton had yet to receive a letter and it could not comment at this time.

Coun Green, however, defended his attendance record and said the parish council had already tried to get him to stand down about 18 months ago.

“The last time the council did something like this, the public stood up for me,” said Coun Green. “In a room packed to capacity, not a single person spoke against me - the village backed me up and the parish council had to withdraw the request.”

Coun Green also insisted that he would not be standing down as district councillor and would continue to serve in the role until his term expires in 2016.

“I was elected by a massive majority (in 2012),” added Coun Green. “If people didn’t want me in this position, they wouldn’t have voted me there.”

He said it was more likely that “the village has no confidence in the parish council”.

“I’m not interested in what they say, I don’t respond to tittle-tattle,” said Coun Green.

He added that his attendance at evening meetings, such as Cowling Parish Council and Craven District Council’s policy committee, could be difficult because he often had to work until 8.30pm.

He also said he would try to attend more parish council meetings if he was given a list of items prior to meetings.

“I’ve asked them to send me a list of things to do,” he said. “I would attend the meetings if there are any issues they want me to address.”

Coun Green also said he did attend full district council meetings in the evening and he had to take a half day’s holiday to attend planning committee meetings in the afternoon.