COUNCIL elections take place across Scotland next month. While turnout for council polls is generally lower than it is for national elections, the work councils do – and the work done by councillors – remains very important indeed.

Councils have critical roles to play in education, the future of high streets, planning, social services and economic regeneration.

But over recent years, the SNP has sought to undermine councils, both financially and in terms of the powers at their disposal.

Councils have faced a decade of real-terms cuts to budgets. At the same time, they have been ordered and mandated to do more.

For example, the balance of power in the planning system has shifted away from councils towards the SNP Government and the secretive Scottish Government reporters, who all too often overturn local planning decisions.

Despite these issues, being a councillor is a hugely rewarding role, and it is with sadness that I shall be standing down from the council next month.

I would like to express my thanks to council officers for their support – and to councillors across the political spectrum. While we all stand for different parties, the vast majority of councillors care passionately about their local areas.

I would also like to thank the community councils and the community groups for the work they do. They remain the unsung heroes.

I also express my personal gratitude to the residents of the Haddington and Lammermuir ward. Whether on planning, schools, the environment or social care, it’s clear my constituents care passionately for their communities and services.

While I will be standing down to focus full-time on being a local MSP, I hope to be able to represent local residents at Holyrood for many years to come.