A YORK councillor who has been caring for her son as he battles with bone cancer is set to be given compassionate leave from her official duties.

Kim Tarry, a Liberal Democrat, represents the Bootham ward on City of York Council.

She and her husband, Councillor Simon Tarry, have been looking after their teenage son, Oliver, and she is expected to be given approval for absence at an Urgency Committee meeting on Thursday.

Coun Tarry last attended a meeting on February 21.

The Local Government Act 1972 states that if a member fails to attend a meeting for a consecutive period of six months they shall, unless the failure was for a reason approved by the council within that six-month period, cease to be a member.

The six-month period expires on August 21, and members of the executive are expected to approve the failure at Thursday's meeting due to the special circumstances.

Coun Steve Galloway, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: "Kim is a registered nurse and she's been looking after her son on a 24-hour basis.

"She's not a member of any council committee at the moment and we are dealing with the case work for her that arises in her ward.

"This is the normal procedure and clearly it is a very unfortunate and sensitive issue."

Updated: 12:05 Monday, August 12, 2002