I’VE always thought there are two approaches to being a politician.

First, you can be a moaner, complaining about the ‘other side’ on every occasion. That has some merit, of course. If you are in opposition, it is your job to, well, oppose. Which is why, at Westminster, the SNP group of MPs acts as the only effective check on the Tory Government now that Labour is so split.

On the other hand, there is a style of politics which tries to find solutions instead of simply criticising all the time. This is the direction I favour, though – I admit – I don’t always keep to such a high standard. I recognise this constructive approach in others across the party political divide in East Lothian Council. I’ll miss working with Michael Veitch, the deputy leader and a Conservative, who is standing down from the council at next May’s election. He has been an excellent cabinet member for transport. I also appreciate the hard work of Labour councillor John McMillan, who is tireless in promoting East Lothian business.

That’s not to say I don’t have criticisms of East Lothian Council, especially its decision to cut financial support for policing, which I believe has fuelled a surge in anti-social behaviour. I also think the council is far too cautious and should invest its massive £24 million surplus rather than have the cash sitting in the bank doing nothing. We desperately need more social housing and better broadband.

So, in the spirit of working collaboratively, here’s my proposal for 2017. There is a huge demand for new housing in East Lothian. That comes from a growing economy in Edinburgh and from demographic change. We need to manage this housing expansion, not bury our heads in the sand or blame the Scottish Government. One reform that would help control the manner of development would be a change to the law to penalise speculators who make repeated planning applications to build on sites not zoned in local plans for housing. Their aim is to wear down opposition.

My suggestion: Politicians of all parties should unite to secure a change in the law that forces speculators lodging repeated planning applications on reserved sites to pay the council’s full legal costs – plus a hefty surcharge if they lose. That would level the playing field in planning decisions.