COUNCIL leader John Dean will not ask a no-show member to resign, in a bid to save taxpayers �4,000. The Tory party chief has fought back over claims Paul Smith should stand down with immediate effect due to the cost of a by-election. Cllr Dean told the W

COUNCIL leader John Dean will not ask a no-show member to resign, in a bid to save taxpayers �4,000.

The Tory party chief has fought back over claims Paul Smith should stand down with immediate effect due to the cost of a by-election.

Cllr Dean told the WHT he would expect the Hatfield East representative to bow out in June, to coincide with the county and European elections.

He said: "His position is he doesn't have to stand down.

"But if the position he has got now is to be made permanent I would expect him to stand down in the local elections."

Calls have also been made for the 22-year-old to hand back the �3,790 which he receives on top of the basic allowance of �4,630, for chairing the environment committee.

But Cllr Dean added: "I wouldn't like to comment on that. If it was me in that position I probably would, but I wouldn't impose that.