First term Central Ward councillor Jing Li has nearly missed half of Adelaide City Council meetings claiming his court case ‘consumes much of my time’

A first-term Adelaide City councillor embroiled in a legal fight has missed nearly half of the meetings held in the past seven months, after only narrowly being elected.

A first-term Adelaide City councillor has missed half of the council and committee meetings held in the past seven months, according to council papers.

Central Ward councillor Jing Li, who was narrowly elected ahead of incumbent Alexander Hyde prompting a challenge in the Court of Disputed Returns, missed 25 of 49 meetings.

Cr Li sent his apologies for 16 of those meetings as required under the council’s Code of Practice and for the remaining nine meetings he had been approved leave.

Councillor Jing Li. Picture: Dean Martin

Cr Li told The Advertiser the court case “consumes much of my time” since being launched soon after the 2022 election and which had concluded, but was reopened in May.

“I have to manage emotionally, mentally and respond to a lot of manners, otherwise I would have committed a lot more into (the) council,” he said.

“It’s just the unfortunate situation I am in.”

Cr Arman Abrahimzadeh was an apology to 20 meetings – 18 of which were committee meetings.

Cr Davis missed 20 meetings – he provided an apology for four, for one he was on approved leave and for the remaining 15 he was absent, meaning he was not on approved leave or had provided an apology.

Cr Simon Hou was an apology to nine meetings and absent from one.

The attendance figures were tabled following a question by Cr Phil Martin, who missed six meetings – three he was an apology and for the remaining three he was on approved leave.

“With some councillors attending less than 50 per cent of meetings, is there any provision in the local government act that deals with continuing neglect of the obligation of attending?” Cr Martin asked staff.

Councillor Phillip Martin. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Acting chief executive Michael Sedgman said if a councillor did not attend three council meetings consecutively without leave or an apology, it was a “matter of significance”.

Cr Martin also asked staff which elected members had left a meeting for more than 30 minutes and those who had left a meeting and didn’t return.

Cr Abrahimzadeh did not return to five meetings, Cr Hou failed to return to four meetings, while Cr Davis failed to return to three.