Andy Sloan was an integral part of Hull Council's Liberal Democrat-led administration, and a driving force behind many initiatives during his time as a cabinet member for the economy and regeneration.

But since his surprise defection to the Tory benches in March, Coun Sloan has rarely been seen at the Guildhall.

Today the Yorkshire Post can reveal Coun Sloan – who has not attended a council meeting in five months – has been working as an economist in the Channel Islands while still drawing his basic members' allowance of £11,643.

He conceded yesterday he realised the two were incompatible and said he was now writing to the council's chief executive to resign.

Coun Sloan, who gained a PhD in economics this summer, began working as an economist for the civil service in Guernsey at the beginning of August.

He said he had stalled on making a decision over his political future while deciding whether to make the move to Guernsey permanent.

He said: "Since that time I have returned to Hull regularly, every few weeks, to visit my wife and family.

"I had hoped to be able to find the time during these visits, as many councillors who work away from home do, to serve the electorate of Drypool ward until such time that we made a final decision one way or the other about my own employment.

"As things stand presently, we have yet to make that decision.

"However, since I have been unable to find the time I had hoped, I have decided it is appropriate to resign as a councillor for Drypool ward.

"It is with great sadness that I do so and I thank the electorate for affording me the opportunity to represent them in public office."

He said he expected his resignation letter to arrive at the council today.

Coun Sloan, who last attended a council meeting on June 19, had been conspicuous by his absence at the Guildhall.

Under national rules all councillors must attend at least one meeting every six months to retain their seat.

Fellow ward councillor Adam Williams, a Liberal Democrat, said: "I haven't seen him since June.

"We have regular meetings with different residents' associations in the ward which councillors are invited to attend.

"He hasn't attended any of those since February or March and quite a few residents' groups have stopped inviting him because he hasn't turned up."

Coun Sloan was a substitute member of the audit, licensing, planning, and overview and scrutiny management committees, and held the same position on the value for money overview and scrutiny commission, the environment and transport overview and scrutiny commission, and the crime and community safety overview and scrutiny commission. He was also a full member of the Riverside area committee, the Riverside area housing board and the Riverside area LEA governor panel.

Coun John Fareham, Conservative group leader at the council, said: "It's a sad loss of a personal friend who will remain a friend at the end of this.

"This is entirely what I would expect of Andy; it's the honourable thing to do. I shall miss him and his contributions to the group and I wish him and his wife luck in the future."