A Watford Borough Councillor who has split from the Green Party will not stand for re-election this spring, the Watford Observer understands.

Councillor Georgina Tara Mann has become an independent after leaving the party earlier this month.

She was elected to the council to represent Callowland ward in 2006, but her falling attendance at meetings, due to personal issues, led to her leaving the party.

Councillor Steve Rackett, the Green Party group leader, said: “She worked very hard as a councillor in the first two or three years of her term but she's been unable to do what we would expect from a Green Party councillor. The main reason is meeting attendance.

“The party rules are quite clear. It's just an application of the rules by the Green Party.

“Of course we are disappointed. She did work very hard on case work and she was diligent in the first part of her term.”