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Anthony Lewis, local democracy reporter

A councillor whose seat was declared vacant for not attending a meeting for more than six months is standing to take it back.

The candidates for two Rhondda Cynon Taf Council by-elections in Penrhiwceiber and Llantwit Fardre next month have been announced.

Councillor Gavin Williams was a Cynon Valley Party councillor for Penrhiwceiber but on March 10 full council voted to declare his seat vacant because he had not attended a meeting for more than six months without permission.

The Local Government Act requires a member of a local authority to attend at least one meeting of that authority within a six-month consecutive period unless permission for the absence is granted by the authority in advance.

Without advance permission to be absent, loss of office is automatic and permission cannot be granted retrospectively.

Given the gap in meetings, recording of councill