A SENIOR councillor is 'failing to attend meetings' it has been claimed, because she is too upset by the alleged break-up of her relationship with the council leader, it has been reported today.

Louise Bloom, Eastleigh's environment and sustainability supremo, is claimed to have missed five cabinet meetings since being dumped by partner of 14 years, Cllr Keith House, according to the Daily Mail.

Cllr House, 49, is said to have struck up a relationship with Cllr Tonia Craig, 43, before promoting her to join his eight-strong cabinet - alongside Cllr Bloom. She was given responsibility for health and community safety.

Cllr Bloom, 50, is reportedly so upset by the break-up that she is said to have not attended any of the five cabinet meetings held since Cllr Craig's promotion in June this year.

All three are members of the Liberal Democrats, which have a huge majority on Eastleigh Borough Ccouncil.

Cabinet members in Eastleigh are entitled to claim an annual £7,664 allowance on top of their basic £6,045 payment for being a councillor.

Cllr House has told locals he is “just good friends” with Cllr Craig but has posted photographs online showing the pair on holiday in America and Canada.

Cllr Craig's husband left her last year.

Cllr House has been leader of Eastleigh Borough Council since 1994 and also represents Bursledon, Hamble and Netley on Hampshire County Council, where he is leader of the Liberal Democrat group.

His positions means he earns more than £70,000 of public money a year.

Tax payers campaigners have questioned if Cllr Bloom is able to carry out the job she was elected to do if she is not attending meetings.

Dia Chakravarty, political director at the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "The councillor owes it to taxpayers, who are paying for her to be on the council, to attend meetings and carry out the job she was elected to do.

"Residents are right to question whether they can afford to keep her on the council if she is unable to fulfill her responsibilities because of personal reasons."