Residents in Washington, Tyne and Wear, can now see exactly how often their local ward councillors attend meetings. As of February 21, 2026, the Washington Area Committee has added a public attendance list to its website to show who is showing up for community decisions.
The new online list displays a percentage for each member based on how many meetings they have attended. This information is important because the committee decides on how neighbourhood grants and community funds are spent in the local area. Current figures show a wide range in participation, with attendance rates stretching from 100 per cent down to 53 per cent.
Councillor Joanne Chapman and Councillor Brandon Feeley both have a perfect 100 per cent attendance record on the committee. The Vice-Chair, Councillor Sean Laws, is recorded at 79 per cent. However, former council leader Graeme Miller currently has the lowest attendance rate among the first ten members listed, at 53 per cent.
These figures have been made public by Sunderland City Council ahead of major local elections in May 2026. During those elections, every one of the 75 seats on the council will be contested. This follows a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England that redrew the voting areas for the city.
The committee is responsible for approving local spending and looking at town-centre improvements. By checking the new attendance column, voters can see if their representatives are taking part in these sessions before they decide who to vote for in the upcoming election.
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