East Lothian Council boss David Berry steps down after 3 years

EAST Lothian Council leader David Berry has announced he is stepping down from the post after three years.

Mr Berry, an SNP councillor for the North Berwick ward and the first nationalist councillor elected on to the local authority, is expected to bow out at a council meeting on 8 June.

He has named his preferred successor as fellow party stalwart, Dunbar councillor Paul McLennan.

First elected in 1999, the outgoing leader stressed that tough economic times ahead would require a leader with a "more emollient style" that would collaborate with other parties within the SNP/Lib Dem coalition administration.

Against a background of the economic crisis, Cllr Berry said he was "especially proud" to have presided over almost 1,000 new affordable homes, a freeze on council tax and better services "right across the board".

"This has all been achieved by a combination of efficiency savings, service re-provision and some tough choices," said Cllr Berry.

"With the prospect of worsening financial strictures over the next several years I feel that this requires me to hand over the reins to someone whose more emollient style may be more effective in continuing the teamwork and sense of joint purpose that has allowed this administration to achieve all that it has to date."