South Wales Evening Post - 30 January 2009
A councillor who said his cat could do a better job than some of his colleagues has hit back at claims he does not live in Swansea.
Rene Kinzett hit the headlines last week when he branded council meetings a waste of time and slammed other elected members who, he said, "know less than my cat about much of what they are considering."
The outburst came after figures revealed the Mayals councillor had attended only 13 per cent of committee meetings in the past 12 months.
However, since then he has been accused by political rivals of letting down his constituents by living and working in London.
But the Mayals councillor said: "If that is all they have to go on — and they are not going to engage in political debate — it is pretty poor to hammer on about a point which is not true.
"Let's talk about the issues. I clearly live in Gower Road.
"The way they are going on, you would think I lived in Timbuktu.
"I think they have more interest in my life than I have in theirs."
When he had to stay in London, because of work commitments, Councillor Kinzett said he stayed with his brother in Streatham.
Last year Councillor Kinzett, who leads the Conservative group on Swansea Council, took a job with a lobbying group whose offices are based in Kew, on the outskirts of London.
However, since then he has maintained that his employment does not affect his ability to represent his ward.
He said: "I work for the National Council on Archives.
"I go to meetings as and when it is required.
"I have to go to meetings outside of Swansea — I am in Norwich next week, and Liverpool the week after that.
"It doesn't affect my work as a councillor at all."
As well as hitting out at the quality of some councillors and the value of meetings, Councillor Kinzett said the timing of council meetings — almost all are held in the day — did not help members who had a job.
He said: "I work for a living.
"Whether it is in Cardiff or Cleethorpes, it doesn't make much difference.
"Do we want a council run by professionals or amateurs?"
